Elevations of serum homocysteine levels are a consistent finding in alcohol addiction. Serum S100B levels are altered in different
neuropsychiatric disorders but not well investigated in alcohol withdrawal syndromes. Because of the close connection of S100B
to ACTH and glutamate secretion that both are involved in neurodegeneration and symptoms of alcoholism the relationship of
S100B and homocysteine to acute withdrawal variables has been examined. A total of 22 male and 9 female inpatients (mean age
46.9 ± 9.7 years) with an ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol addiction without relevant affective comorbidity were examined on admission
and after 24, 48, and 120 h during withdrawal. S100B and homocysteine levels in serum were collected, and severity of withdrawal
symptoms (AWS-scale), applied withdrawal medication, initial serum ethanol levels and duration of addiction were recorded.
Serum S100B and homocysteine levels declined significantly (P < .05) over time. Both levels declined with withdrawal syndrome severity. Females showed a trend to a more intense decline
in serum S100B levels compared to males at day 5 (P = .06). Homocysteine levels displayed a negative relationship to applied amount of clomethiazole (P < .05) and correlated with age of onset of addiction. No withdrawal seizures were recorded during the trial. As it is known
for homocysteine, S100B revealed to decline rapidly over withdrawal treatment in alcoholism. This effect is more pronounced
in female patients. S100B could be of relevance in the neurobiology of alcohol withdrawal syndromes. It may be indirectly
related to the level of stress level or glutamatergic activity during alcohol withdrawal.
Keywords Alcohol addiction – Homocysteine – S100B – Withdrawal