Neurological manifestations in chronic alcoholics.
One hundred and twenty-two chronic alcoholics were examined neurologically after more than 14 days of abstinence. A high frequency of the following was noted: abnormal smooth pursuit eye movement, hyperreflexia, snout reflex, incoordination, and signs suggesting peripheral neuropathy. Some significant mutual correlations among these neurological signs were noted, although they characteristically appeared independently and no patient showed typical clinical features of classical alcoholic neurological diseases, such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Only abnormal smooth pursuit eye movement and incoordination showed significant correlation with nutritional status and these signs were more frequently present in the poor nutritional status group. There seemed to be a correlation between abnormal smooth pursuit eye movement and cortical atrophy on head CT scan. The possible pathogenetic mechanisms underlying these neurological abnormalities are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009461:Neurologic Manifestations; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012018:Reflex; D012677:Sensation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed