[Visual evoked potentials in low blood alcohol concentrations].
BACKGROUND
Both the acute toxic effects of ethanol on the central nervous system and the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on the optic nerve (tobacco-alcohol amblyopia) are well known. We investigated the acute effect of low blood alcohol concentrations on visual evoked potentials.


METHODS
A pattern VEP (stimulation by TV monitor, alternating chequerboard patterns, 45', 2 Hz, contrast 90%) was performed in ten healthy volunteers in sober condition and 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min following ingestion of 1 g/kg body weight ethanol (resulting in a blood alcohol concentration of 0.8-1.1%). Blood samples were drawn from the cubital vein simultaneously with each recording to determine blood alcohol concentration.


RESULTS
Neither peak latencies nor amplitudes showed significant changes related to blood alcohol concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
No acute impairment of the optic nerve caused by ingestion of low doses of alcohol could be found using pattern VEP.
Behrendt
S
S
Klinik für Ophthalmologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel.
Kaatsch
H J
HJ
Schwinger
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology
D000431:Ethanol
Visuell evozierte Potentiale bei niedrigen Blutalkoholkonzentrationen.