1. The relationship between the content of hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and the length of abstinence was investigated in 45 chronic alcoholic patients. 2. Hepatic GSH levels were significantly correlated (r=0.58; P<0.001) with the length of alcohol withdrawal in the whole group. According to liver histology patients were divided into two groups, with and without hepatic necrosis. Subjects without necrosis showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.71; P<0.001) between GSH values and the length of abstinence; no correlation (r=-0.22; P<0.40) was observed in the group with necrosis. 3. According to the period of abstinence patients were separated into two groups, with a short (≤5 days) and a prolonged (>5 days) alcohol withdrawal. Patients with and without necrosis exhibited comparable mean levels of liver GSH (2.04 ± SEM 0.21 and 1.74 ± 0.23 μmol/g respectively; P<0.30) when studied after short periods of abstinence. Alcoholics without liver necrosis showed significantly highe
