Filamentous axonopathy in disulfiram neuropathy.
A 52-year-old female developed a sensorimotor polyneuropathy while on treatment with disulfiram. Electron microscopic examination of a sural nerve biopsy disclosed occasional axons distended by intermediate filaments. Identical changes can be induced in animals by carbon disulfide (CS2), a metabolite of disulfiram. Our findings suggest that disulfiram neurotoxicity is mediated by CS2 and is exerted on the distal axon.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D013127:Spinal Nerves / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D004221:Disulfiram