Peripheral Nerve Conduction in Alcoholics

Peripheral nerve conduction velocities were determined in 12 patients hospitalized with chronic alcoholism. These patients did not have clinical evidence of peripheral neuropathy and were admitted because of acute and chronic alcoholic intoxication. Five of these patients were younger, had been drinking for a shorter time, had no clinical evidence of nutritional deficiency, and had not suffered alcoholic withdrawal syndromes; their peripheral nerve conduction velocities were normal. The only change was an increase in latency of the H reflex (a monosynaptic response recorded from calf muscles by electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve). In the other 7 patients, distal sensory and motor conduction was reduced, and the H wave was prolonged, indicating subclinical neuropathy. These patients had had abstinence syndromes and although they had no clinical evidence of nutritional deficiency, they had maintained poor dietary habits during their drinking bouts. In 3 volunteers who were chronic alcoholics, nerve conduction velocities did not change significantly during 27 days of chronic alcoholic intoxication. It is concluded that alcohol per se does not produce the peripheral neuropathy which occurs in chronic alcoholics

Abstinence · Anesthesia · Chronic alcoholic · Electromyography · Nerve conduction · Nerve conduction velocity · Peripheral · Peripheral neuropathy · Psychiatry · Reflex · Subclinical infection · Endocrinology · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Muscle activation and electromyography studies · Pain Mechanisms and Treatments · Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies

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