title: [Disulfiram neuropathy].
abstract: Two chronically alcohol-addicted patients, a 37-year old woman and a 22-year old man, developed a severe polyneuropathy after being treated with very high doses of disulfiram. In the first case there was a high-grade proximal tetraparesis, especially of the legs; in the other there was a similar largely motor, but predominantly distal, neuropathy. Electrophysiological tests established a pattern of axonal damage. Guillain-Barré syndrome was excluded by analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. Over a period of observation of 6 months and 2 1/2 years, respectively, the paresis continued even after disulfiram had been discontinued. 2 1/2 years later the electrophysiological changes were still present. As disulfiram treatment may cause severe side effects it is recommended that the lowest possible dosage by employed.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Städtischen Krankenhauses Emden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klugkist
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Preuss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects*; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004576:Electromyography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D004221:Disulfiram
vernacular_title: Disulfiram-Neuropathie.