[Alcoholic encephalopathies in autopsy material].

A report is given on incidence, complications, causes of death, and morphological diagnosis of chronic alcoholism in autopsy material. Chronic alcoholism was registered in 8.4% of all autopsies. The average age at death of alcoholics, particularly female, was significantly lower than that of all autopsy material. Pneumonia was the most frequent direct cause of death (21.1%). Acute ethanol intoxication was in second position (15.8%). Wernicke's encephalopathy was observed in 0.6% of all autopsies (18% of alcoholics), cerebellar atrophy occurred in 0.4% (12%), and central pontine myelinolysis was found in 0.2% (7%). The mean brain weight of alcoholics was 1310 g as compared with 1400 g of controls. Problems of clinical and postmortal diagnosis as well as medical and social consequences are discussed.