Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T23:51:58.807Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Abnormalities of Peripheral Nerve Conduction in Relation to Thiamine Status in Alcoholic Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Monique L. D'Amour ,
Julie Bruneau  and
Roger F. Butterworth
Monique L. D'Amour
Affiliation:
Detoxification Unit, André-Viallet Clinical Reserach Center, Hôpital Saint-Luc (University of Montreal), Montreal
Julie Bruneau
Affiliation:
Detoxification Unit, André-Viallet Clinical Reserach Center, Hôpital Saint-Luc (University of Montreal), Montreal
Roger F. Butterworth*
Affiliation:
Detoxification Unit, André-Viallet Clinical Reserach Center, Hôpital Saint-Luc (University of Montreal), Montreal
*
Laboratory of Neurochemistry, Hôpital St-Luc, 1058 rue St-Denis, Montréal, PQ H2X 3J4
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Thiamine status was evaluated using the erythrocyte transketolase activation assay in 20 alcoholic patients admitted on a voluntary basis to a Detoxification Unit. Electromyographic evaluation revealed significant reductions of motor and sensory conduction velocities in the alcoholic group. 38% of alcoholic patients had at least one abnormal peripheral nerve conduction parameter. Findings were consistent with an axonal type of neuropathy. 30% of alcoholic patients showed significant erythrocyte transketolase activation deficits indicative of severe thiamine deficiency. In the case of peroneal nerve, reduced conduction velocities were negatively correlated with abnormal transketolase parameters. These findings are consistent with a contributory (but not exclusive) role of thiamine deficiency in the pathogenesis of alcoholic peripheral neuropathy. Deficiencies of other vitamins as well as direct neurotoxic effects of alcohol could also be involved in this phenomenon.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , May 1991 , pp. 126 - 128
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1991

References

1.Fennelly, J, Frank, O, Baker, H, et al. Peripheral neuropathy of the alcoholic: I, aetiological role of aneurin and other B-complex vitamins. Brit Med J 1964; 2: 1290–1292.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Victor, M, Adams, RD and Collins, GH. The Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome and related neurologic disorders due to alcoholism and malnutrition, 2nd Ed. Contemporary Neurology Series, F.A. Davis, Philadelphia 1989.Google Scholar
3.Warnock, LG, Prudhomme, CR and Wagner, C. The determination of thiamine pyrophosphate in blood and other tissues and its correlation with erythrocyte transketolase activity. J Nutr 1978; 108: 421–427.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Butterworth, RF. Thiamin malnutrition and brain development. In: Rassin, DK, Haber, B, Drujan, B, eds. Basic and Clinical Aspects of Nutrition and Brain Development. New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc. 1987; 279–296.Google Scholar
5.Butterworth, RF, Giguère, JF and Besnard, AM. Activities of thiamine-dependent enzymes in two experimental models of thiamine-deficiency encephalopathy. Neurochem Res 1985; 10: 1417–1428.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Kelly, JJ Jnr. The electrodiagnostic findings in peripheral neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy. Muscle & Nerve 1983; 6: 504–509.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Mawdsley, C, Mayer, RF. Nerve conduction in alcoholic neuropathy. Brain 1965; 88: 335–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Mayer, RF. Peripheral nerve conduction in alcoholics. Psychosom Med 1966; 28: 475.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Lefebvre-D’Amour, M, Shahani, BT, Young, RR, et al. Importance of studying sural conduction and late responses in the evaluation of alcoholic subjects. Neurology 1979; 29: 1600–1604.Google Scholar
10.Mc Lane, JA, Khna, T, Held, IR. Increased axonal transport in peripheral nerves of thiamine-deficient rats. Exp Neurol 1987; 95: 482–491.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Behse, F and Buchthal, F. Alcoholic neuropathy: clinical electrophysiological and biopsy findings. Ann Neurol 1977; 2: 95–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Juntunen, J, Teravainen, H, Eriksson, K, et al. Peripheral neuropathy and myopathy. An experimental study on rats on alcohol and variable dietary thiamine. Virchows Arch Pathol [Anat Histol] 1979; 383: 241–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Butterworth, RF. Vitamin deficiencies and brain development. In: van Gelder, NM, Butterworth, RF, Drujan, B, eds. Malnutrition and the Infant Brain. New York: Alan R. Liss, Inc. 1990.Google Scholar
14.Bean, WB, Hodges, RE and Daun, KE. Pantothenic acid deficiency induced in human subjects. J Clin Invest 1955; 34: 1073–1084.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed