Abstract Details

Title Female Binge Drinkers may be at Higher Risk of Acute Alcoholic Neuropathy

Topic General Neurology

Presentation(s) P13 - Poster Session 13 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 12-007

Objective This study is a case series of female patients who presented with significant disability attributed to acute alcoholic neuropathy. It describes their clinical presentation, laboratory, electrodiagnostic findings, and pathology of muscle and nerve biopsies.

Background Recent studies have shown that binge drinking may lead to more harm to health than chronic average alcohol consumption. Prior research on alcoholic neuropathy has predominantly focused on chronic, slowly progressive alcoholic neuropathies. Females are at increased risk for alcoholic polyneuropathy. Sexually dimorphic rats respond differently in models of alcohol induced neuropathy.

Design/Methods This is a retrospective analysis of patients who presented with acute, axonal polyneuropathy in the context of binge drinking. Three patients were identified with a sensorimotor polyneuropathy that developed acutely (up to 4 weeks). Symptoms were neuropathic pain, paresthesias, muscle weakness, areflexia, disability and weight loss. Nutrient deficiency was not identified as an etiology. Extensive studies were performed ruling out other etiologies including inflammation and other toxins. Trials of immunomodulators were variable in objective improvement.

Results Extensive studies including serology, electrodiagnostic studies, nerve and muscle biopsy failed to identify an alternative etiology for acute polyneuropathy. Trials of treatment response were variable in objective improvement. Following extensive diagnostic studies, risk factors in these three patients include self-professed or family-ascertained history about binge drinking, nausea and vomiting prior to acute polyneuropathy. All patients were female and this was similar to other published case series of acute alcoholic/nutritional neuropathies.

Conclusions We hypothesize that female patients have a predilection to developing acute/subacute axonal neuropathy after binge drinking. This could be related to a direct nerve toxicity or sexually dimorphic features given that nutrient deficiencies were not identified.

Authors/Disclosures
Angelica Carolina Cornejo, MD PRESENTER	Dr. Cornejo has nothing to disclose.
Thy Nguyen, MD (University of Texas Health Science Center)	Dr. Nguyen has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for ArgenX. Dr. Nguyen has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for UCB. Dr. Nguyen has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Alexion. Dr. Nguyen has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Takeda. Dr. Nguyen has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care.

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