[Alcoholic polyneuropathy. Electrophysiological and clinical findings in 85 patients (author's transl)]

Maximum motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities, amplitudes of muscle action potentials (surface electrodes) and of sensory nerve action potentials, and needle electromyograms were studied in 80 patients with alcoholic neuropathy and in 5 chronic alcoholics without clinical signs of neuropathy. The electrophysiological results were compared to the clinical findings. Neurographic criteria compatible with the diagnosis "alcoholic neuropathy" were defined. Neurographic findings contrary to a diagnosis of alcoholic etiology were demonstrated in 3 patients. Only in a smaller group of patients could a reduction of conduction velocity be found, especially in regions of peripheral nerve entrapment. A decrease in conduction velocity outside of the entrapment sites can be explained in some cases by segmental demyelination in chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver.