Abstract Details

Title Is Alcoholic Neuropathy Selective ?

Topic Neuromuscular and Clinical Neurophysiology (EMG)

Presentation(s) P2 - Poster Session 2 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 12-024

Objective To evaluate the occurrence and pattern of subclinical neuropathy in chronic alcoholics.

Background Chronic alcoholic ingestion is associated with painful sensory neuropathy more than motor.

Design/Methods This cross sectional study included 30 subjects who fulfilled the CAGE criteria for alcohol dependence and who had no symptoms of neuropathy. Patients who had diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism or renal failure were excluded. Nerve conduction studies were done on the motor and sensory fibres of the upper and lower limb nerves and the values were compared to our normal lab values

Results

Reduction in compound Muscle Action Potential amplitude of the motor fibres was the most consistent abnormality.The reduction in amplitude as compared to our normal lab values was seen in 66.66% of common peroneal nerves, 20% in ulnar nerves, 16.66% in tibial and 13.33% in median nerves. Distal latency prolongation and reduction in conduction velocity was seen mostly in the peroneal nerves in 16.66%. The Sensory Nerve Action Potential amplitude was maximally involved in the ulnar 36.66% compared to 23.33% in the sural and 20% in the superficial peroneal nerves.

Conclusions

Our study showed that there was a prediliction for involvement of certain nerves in alcoholics namely the peroneal, ulnar and sural nerves with axonopathic changes.This leads us to conclude that the nerves more vulnerable to compression are the ones to get affected early and show this pattern of selective neuropathy

Authors/Disclosures
Natarajan Visvanathan, MD, DM, FAAN PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file

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