Dependence, dementia, cerebellar dysfunction, and myopathy in association with chronic isopropanol ingestion

Little is known about the chronic sequelae of isopropanol ingestion. Acute effects of isopropanol ingestion include central nervous system depression, gastrointestinal irritation, impaired gluconeogenesis, delirium, hypotension, and coma. We present a case of a patient who preferentially consumed isopropyl alcohol for at least 17 years and developed sequelae of alcoholic neuromyopathy, recurrent rhabdomyolysis, cerebellar dysfunction, and dementia. Issues related to the patient's preferential consumption of isopropanol are discussed, along with descriptions of the neurobehavioral, neurophysiologic, and neuropathologic studies related to her chronic isopropanol ingestion. The epidemiology of nonbeverage alcohol is briefly reviewed, and clinicians are encouraged to inquire about nonbeverage-alcohol consumption in patients presenting with alcohol-related problems.