Incidence of peripheral neuropathy and cerebellar ataxia in chronic alcoholics.
A total of 78 chronic alcoholics were examined neurologically as well as by electroneurography, myography and posturography. Clinical signs of peripheral neuropathy were detected in 45% of these patients, with electromyographic and neurographic abnormality in 67% and 55% respectively. Clinical signs of cerebellar ataxia were found in 33% of our patients, whereas posturographic measurements of increased sway were recorded in 69%. The posturographic characteristics of cerebellar anterior lobe atrophy were observed in two-thirds of the latter patients. The severity of cerebellar-ataxia did not correlate with the degree of neuropathy. This lack of correlation is interpreted as an indication of different pathogenetic mechanisms acting on peripheral nerves and cerebellum.
D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006181:H-Reflex; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture; D011434:Proprioception; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology