Effect of alcohol consumption versus abstinence on 24-h blood pressure profile in normotensive alcoholic patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in 15 male alcoholic normotensive subjects during alcohol consumption and following an abstinence phase and the effects of alcohol consumption compared with a period of 1 week of abstinence. The average 24-h BP was not different, but the diurnal pattern showed a fall in systolic BP early (06: 00 to noon; P< .005) and late (18: 00 to 22: 00; P< .002) in the day during abstinence. BP variability was increased during the alcohol phase (P< .05). This study showed that 1 week of abstinence does not influence 24-h BP levels in normotensive subjects, but alters the diurnal pattern, characterized by a fall in systolic BP and increased BP variability.