Article

A group of 50 subjects with alcohol dependence syndrome without clinical symptoms of impairment of the peripheral neurone was examined, by means of the previously developed method of graduation of motor, sensory and nerve potentials in the median nerve. The results were compared with those in the control group (22 healthy persons) and a group of 22 patients with alcohol polyneuropathy and with previously prepared patterns of the particular types of lesion of the peripheral neurone. In elaboration of results, the mean values of the parameters of graduated potentials were evaluated, probability of appurtenance of the individual case to the group patterns of the type of peripheral neurone lesions. It appeared that a significant number of subjects with the alcohol dependence syndrome shows deviations from normal, less advanced but similar to those in the group with APn polyneuropathy. It was found that the low-threshold, rapidly conducting sensory fibres are affected earliest, next come the motor fibres and the changes are most pronounced in the distal nerve segment. For this reason examination of graduated sensory potentials comprising the end segment of the median nerve reveals, in 92% of cases with the alcohol dependence syndrome, subclinical peripheral neurone lesions. Elaboration of individual results requires a computer programme, but allows in subclinical cases the detection and evaluation of the degree of advancement of changes in the peripheral neurone. In the foregoing paper (20) standards of behaviour of graduated potentials under normal conditions and after peripheral nerve (pn) impairment of axonal, demyelinative and degenerative (motor pn) type and involving a small fraction of thick sensory fibres (spn impairment associated with ALS) were established. The present study was undertaken to find whether individuals addicted to alcohol without symptoms of polyneuropathy exhibit, in examination of graduated potential, deviations from normal and whether these changes resemble those in alcoholic polyneuropathy (axonal type).

Langue : ANGLAIS

Identifiant basis : 1985003231