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[Dysfunction of the sural nerve in cigarette smokers]
I W Husstedt1, K H Grotemeyer, H P Schlake
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.
EEG-EMG Zeitschrift Fur Elektroenzephalographie, Elektromyographie Und Verwandte Gebiete
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Smoking causes a slight, persistent dysfunction in the sural nerve (nerve conduction velocity and relative refractory period). This nerve impairment in smokers may indicate subclinical myelin sheath changes and affects peripheral nerve aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Peripheral Nervous System Physiology
- Toxicology
Context:
- Smoking is a prevalent habit with known systemic health effects.
- Peripheral nerve function can be influenced by various lifestyle factors.
- Assessing subclinical nerve changes is crucial for understanding long-term health impacts.
Purpose:
- To investigate the effects of smoking on sural nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and relative refractory period (RRP).
- To determine if smoking-induced nerve dysfunction is reversible after cessation.
- To explore the potential link between smoking and age-related nerve function decline.
Summary:
- Smokers exhibited a significantly higher relative refractory period (RRP) (5.8 ± 1.5%) compared to non-smokers (2.6 ± 1.3%), indicating impaired nerve function.
- Ex-smokers showed an RRP (3.9 ± 1.9%) that differed from both current smokers and non-smokers, suggesting incomplete reversibility of the dysfunction.
- Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) showed minimal differences between groups, but the significant RRP changes highlight subtle functional deficits.
Impact:
- Smoking induces a subtle, yet statistically significant, dysfunction in the sural nerve.
- The observed nerve dysfunction may not be fully reversible even after smoking cessation.
- These findings suggest smoking could contribute to subclinical myelin sheath alterations and impact the age-dependent decline of peripheral nerve function.