[Electromyographical aspects of alcoholic polyneuropathy]

The aim of the work was determination of the pattern of electroneuromyographic disorders (ENMG) with determination of the character, degree and peculiarities of the damages in peripheral nerves of upper and lower, extremities in 82 patients aged 25-65 years with alcoholic polyneuropathy. By means of standard ENMG methods the study was made of motor fibrae of median, tibia, fibular and sensory fibrae of median and sural nerves. Generalized symmetric sensomotor distal axonopathy was revealed. The most pronounced ENMG-signs were: a considerable decrease of the amplitude or the absence of the action potentials from the sensory fibrae of sural nerve as well as a decrease of the amplitude of M-component of muscle action potential from the short extensor of the fingers during study of fibular nerve. There was a prevalent decrease of the amplitude of positive peak of M-response. The index of the amplitude of the positive peak is proposed which more objectively reflects an alteration of its amplitude on the early stage of the disease. The degree of a damage of different peripheral nerves was also determined.