Psychosomatic Medicine 28:475-483 (1966)
© 1966 American Psychosomatic Society

Peripheral Nerve Conduction in Alcoholics

Studies of the Effects of Acute and Chronic Intoxication

¹ Neurological Unit of the Boston City Hospital, and the Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.; Present address: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, M.D.

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.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Eckardt, T. C. Harford, C. T. Kaelber, E. S. Parker, L. S. Rosenthal, R. S. Ryback, G. C. Salmoiraghi, E. Vanderveen, and K. R. Warren Health Hazards Associated With Alcohol Consumption JAMA, August 7, 1981; 246(6): 648 - 666. [Abstract] [PDF]