The Prolonged P<sub>300</sub> Latency in Recently Detoxified Alcohol-Dependent Patients Is Related to Activation of the Inflammatory Response System

The aims of this study were to examine the late components of the auditory event-related potentials (AERPs), i.e. N<sub>100</sub>, P<sub>200</sub> and P<sub>300</sub>, in recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients compared to normal controls and to investigate whether there is a relationship between alterations in these AERPs and signs of activation of the inflammatory response system (IRS). The study subjects consisted of 14 healthy volunteers and 14 recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients. All subjects performed a two-tone auditory discrimination task, using a standard ‘oddball’ paradigm. The alcohol-dependent patients had their blood sampled to examine IRS markers, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum copper concentrations and the number of leukocytes. The P<sub>300</sub> latency was significantly greater in recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients than in normal controls. There were significant correlations between the P<sub>300</sub> latency and the ESR (r = 0.84, p = 0.009), serum copper concentrations (r = 0.73, p = 0.01) and number of monocytes (r = 0.71, p = 0.006). It is concluded that the P<sub>300</sub> latency is prolonged in detoxified, chronic alcohol-dependent patients and is positively related to indicators of IRS activation. It is hypothesized that activation of the IRS may play a role in the delayed P<sub>300</sub> latency in recently detoxified, alcohol-dependent patients.