アルコール依存症にみられる様々な臓器障害

Various kinds of organ damage seen in alcohol dependence syndrome

アルコール依存症は，全身の様々な臓器障害を引き起こす．その中には日常診療でよく遭遇する生活習慣病である高血圧症，脳血管障害，糖尿病，肝疾患，膵疾患，高齢化社会で急増している認知症，自殺予防の観点から対策が急がれているうつ病などの精神疾患も含まれる．また，頭頸部癌，消化管の癌，乳癌の発癌にも関与している．そのほか，メタボリック・シンドロームとのかかわりも深い．アルコール依存症の治療には一般医とアルコール専門医の連携が必要であるが，まず様々な臓器障害の背景としてのアルコール依存症を早期に診断することが大切である．

Alcohol dependence syndrome causes various kinds of organ damage throughout the body.　This includes lifestyle-related illnesses often encountered during routine medical examinations such as hypertension, cerebrovascular diease, diabetes, liver disease, and pancreatic disease, as well as dementia, which has seen a rapid increase in our aging society, and mental illnesses such as depression for which swift measures are necessary to prevent suicide.　Furthermore, alcohol dependence syndrome plays a part in the development of cancer of the head and neck, gastrointestinal cancer, and breast cancer.　It is also strongly linked to metabolic syndrome.　Although cooperation between general practitioners and alcohol specialists is essential in the treatment of alcohol dependence syndrome, of prime importance is the early diagnosis of alcohol dependence syndrome as a context for various kinds of organ damage.