Peripheral nerve conduction, visual evoked potentials and vitamin B1 serum level in chronic alcoholics

70 chronic alcoholics were tested. In all patients VEP (pattern reversal) and MMCV (of the peroneal nerve) was examined. Moreover 47 of the patients underwent Hoffman reflex testing as well. In 16 (23%) of the patients the VEP P100 latency was delayed, in 21 (30%) the MMCV was decreased and in 16 (34%) the H-M interval was increased. A positive correlation was found between VEP latency and peroneal MMCV. VEP P100 delay is possibly caused by a subclinical optic neuropathy.