title: Abnormalities of peripheral nerve conduction in relation to thiamine status in alcoholic patients.
abstract: Thiamine status was evaluated using the erythrocyte transketolase activation assay in 20 alcoholic patients admitted on a voluntary basis to a Detoxification Unit. Electromyographic evaluation revealed significant reductions of motor and sensory conduction velocities in the alcoholic group. 38% of alcoholic patients showed significant erythrocyte transketolase activation deficits indicative of severe thiamine deficiency. In the case of peroneal nerve, reduced conduction velocities were negatively correlated with abnormal transketolase parameters. These findings are consistent with a contributory (but not exclusive) role of thiamine deficiency in the pathogenesis of alcoholic peripheral neuropathy. Deficiencies of other vitamins as well as direct neurotoxic effects of alcohol could also be involved in this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, André-Viallet Clinical Research Center, Hôpital Saint-Luc University of Montreal.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: D'Amour
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruneau
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Butterworth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013831:Thiamine / Q000097:blood*; D014174:Transketolase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014174:Transketolase; D013831:Thiamine