Abstract
Chronical alcohol abuse may affect among the others also peripheral nervous system. Although high prevalence among alcoholicsthis group of diseases remains often neglected.
Alcohol abuse affects all types of nerve fibers including thin unmyelinated onesmediating pain. The range of damage rise from mono - to polyneuropathies and the disease course may fluctuate from acute tochronic one.
Alcohol neuropathy is caused by two dominant pathophysiological mechanisms: 1) direct toxicity of ethanol and itsmetabolite of acetaldehyde, 2) alcohol interaction with thiamine metabolism resulting in nutritional neuropathy. Axonal damageis the dominant hallmark of neuropathy detectable on EMG.
The treatment is substitutional by thiamin administration, dietaryand also behavioral (by abstinence often requiring the care of psychiatrist).