Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1972 Oct;35(5):624–630. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.35.5.624

Electrophysiological evidence for a distal lesion in alcoholic neuropathy

E B Casey 1,2, Pamela M Le Quesne 1,2
PMCID: PMC494141  PMID: 4343480

Abstract

Nerve conduction studies were carried out on 16 alcoholic subjects with minimal or no clinical evidence of peripheral neuropathy. Digital nerve action potentials recorded at the base of the finger were reduced in amplitude in five but the potential at the wrist was reduced in only one. In two other patients, even though the values were within the control range, the ratio of the amplitude recorded from the finger and from the wrist was smaller than in control subjects. Thus, by recording both digital and wrist action potentials, abnormalities have been demonstrated in seven of 16 patients, whereas the wrist potential was abnormal in only one. Conduction velocity was slightly reduced in the fingers in three patients.

Full text

PDF
630

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Blackstock E., Rushworth G., Gath D. Electrophysiological studies in alcoholism. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1972 Jun;35(3):326–334. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.35.3.326. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. COUERS C., HILDEBRAND J. LATENT NEUROPATHY IN DIABETES AND ALCOHOLISM: ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC AND HISTOLOGICAL STUDY. Neurology. 1965 Jan;15:19–38. doi: 10.1212/wnl.15.1.19. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Casey E. B., Le Quesne P. M. Digital nerve action potentials in healthy subjects, and in carpal tunnel and diabetic patients. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1972 Oct;35(5):612–623. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.35.5.612. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Catton M. J., Harrison M. J., Fullerton P. M., Kazantzis G. Subclinical neuropathy in lead workers. Br Med J. 1970 Apr 11;2(5701):80–82. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5701.80. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cavanagh J. B. The significance of the "dying back" process in experimental and human neurological disease. Int Rev Exp Pathol. 1964;3:219–267. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DAWSON G. D. The relative excitability and conduction velocity of sensory and motor nerve fibres in man. J Physiol. 1956 Feb 28;131(2):436–451. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1956.sp005473. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fullerton P. M., Barnes J. M. Peripheral neuropathy in rats produced by acrylamide. Br J Ind Med. 1966 Jul;23(3):210–221. doi: 10.1136/oem.23.3.210. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fullerton P. M. Electrophysiological and histological observations on peripheral nerves in acrylamide poisoning in man. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1969 Jun;32(3):186–192. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.32.3.186. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hopkins A. P., Gilliatt R. W. Motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity in the baboon: normal values and changes during acrylamide neuropathy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1971 Aug;34(4):415–426. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.34.4.415. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. LaFratta C. W., Canestrari R. A comparison of sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities as related to age. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1966 May;47(5):286–290. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Mawdsley C., Mayer R. F. Nerve conduction in alcoholic polyneuropathy. Brain. 1965 Jun;88(2):335–356. doi: 10.1093/brain/88.2.335. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Thomas P. K. The morphological basis for alterations in nerve conduction in peripheral neuropathy. Proc R Soc Med. 1971 Mar;64(3):295–298. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Walsh J. C., McLeod J. G. Alcoholic neuropathy. An electrophysiological and histological study. J Neurol Sci. 1970 May;10(5):457–469. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(70)90025-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES