The Auto-Brewery Syndrome: A Perfect Metabolic "Storm" with Clinical and Forensic Implications

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Ricardo Jorge Dinis Oliveira (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Clinical Medicine

Vol. 81

ISSN: 2077-0383

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-JVS

DOI: 10.3390/jcm10204637

Abstract (EN): Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS) is a rare, unstudied, unknown, and underreported phenomenon in modern medicine. Patients with this syndrome become inebriated and may suffer the medical and social implications of alcoholism, including arrest for inebriated driving. The pathophysiology of ABS is reportedly due to a fungal type dysbiosis of the gut that ferments some carbohydrates into ethanol and may mimic a food allergy or intolerance. This syndrome should be considered in patients with chronic obstruction or hypomotility presenting with elevated breath and blood alcohol concentrations, especially after a high carbohydrate intake. A glucose challenge test should be performed as the confirmatory test. Treatment typically includes antifungal drugs combined with changes in lifestyle and nutrition. Additional studies are particularly needed on the human microbiome to shed light on how imbalances of commensal bacteria in the gut allow yeast to colonize on a pathological level.</p>

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12