The alcoholic neuropathies developed in approximately 34% of chronic alcoholics. Direct neurotoxic effect of alcohol, vitamin deficiencies and nutritional deficiencies were suggested to be the major causes of alcoholic neuropathies. The aims of
this
study were to identify the prevalence of subclinical peripheral neuropathies in alcohol dependence, and to speculate on the underlying mechanism of alcoholic neuropathies.
The nerve conduction velocity(NCV) and electromyography(EMG) were tested for the male alcoholics(N=47) and normal controls(N=17), and the variables which might affect the test result of NCV and EMG were discussed.
1) While 8(17.0%) out of 47 alcoholics clinically had neuropathies, the NCV and EMG detected signs of peripheral neuropathies in 34(72.3%) alcoholics.
2) On the motor NCV in alcoholics, the amplitude of peroneal nerve was significantly lowered9p<0.01). The conduction velocities were significantly reduced in the median(p<0.005), ulnar and peroneal(p<0.05 respectively) nerves. There was no
significant
differences in the distal latency comparing with control group.
3) On the sensory NCV in alcoholics, the amplitude was significantly lowered in ulnar(p<0.0005) and sural(p<0.05) nerves. The conduction velocities were significantly reduced in median nerve(p<0.05). The distal latencies were significantly
delayed
in
ulnar nerve(p<0.005).
4) The H-reflex was absent in 30 alcoholics(71.4%) among 42 alcoholics.
5) On the EMG, such abnormal findings as the fibrillation potentials and/or positive sharp waves in rest, and the decreased numbers of motor unit action potentials and increased polyphasic potentials in volition of limb muscles were found in
15(31.9%)
out of 47 alcoholics.
6) The alcoholic neuropathies were not correlated with variables like age, duration of alcohol drinking, severity of alcohol dependence, cognitive deficit, hepatic dysfunction, anemia and serum folic acid and lipid metabolism.
In conclusion, the prevalence of subclinical neuropathies in alcoholics seemed to be much higher beyond expectation. The electrophysiological studies highly suggested that the cause of neuropathies was direct neurotoxic effect of alcohol that
might
exert axonal degeneration
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