HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by D'Amour, M. L. Articles by Bird, K. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by D'Amour, M. L. Articles by Bird, K. T.

The importance of studying sural nerve conduction and late responses in the evaluation of alcoholic subjects

From the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratories, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Motor conduction velocities of median, ulnar, peroneal, and tibial nerves and sensory conduction velocities of median and ulnar nerves were studied in 30 alcoholic subjects and a similar group of control subjects. The results were compared to sural nerve conduction velocities and late response latencies (H reflex, F response). The latter two techniques improved the diagnostic yield by 20%: Whereas 73% of our patients showed an abnormality of conduction with conventional techniques, 93% had an abnormality of sural nerve conduction, late response latencies, or both. Abnormalities of motor and sensory conduction, which were more prominent in the lower limbs than the arms, could be documented in patients who did not have any clinical evidence of peripheral neuropathy. The electrophysiologic studies performed in the present study suggest that "axonal degeneration" is the underlying pathologic process in alcoholic peripheral nerve disease.

Presented at the twenty-eighth annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, Toronto, April 1976.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Shahani, Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratories, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114.

Accepted for publication April 30, 1979.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. A. Ackil, B. T. Shahani, R. R. Young, and N. E. Rubin Late Response and Sural Conduction Studies: Usefulness in Patients With Chronic Renal Failure Arch Neurol, August 1, 1981; 38(8): 482 - 485. [Abstract] [PDF]