Alcohol Withdrawal and Hypertension: Evidence for a Kidney Abnormality

We are very interested to read the paper by Bannan et al. [1] about the effect of alcohol withdrawal on blood pressure, plasma renin activity, aldosterone, cortisol and dopamine β-hydroxylase. It has been known for several years that alcoholic patients admitted to hospital for detoxification have a high prevalence of hypertension [2]. Their blood pressures return to normal after alcohol withdrawal symptoms have abated and they remain normal if they continue to abstain. Patients who resume drinking sustain a rise in blood pressure to their former high levels.