Alcohol (Ethanol) Related Neuropathy Follow-up
- Author: Tarakad S Ramachandran, MBBS, FRCP(C), FACP; Chief Editor: Stephen A Berman, MD, PhD, MBA more...
Prognosis
- The prognosis of alcoholic neuropathy generally is good, as reported by Hillbom and Wennberg in their series of 10 patients.[18]
- Provided that alcohol intake is discontinued and other causes of neuropathy (eg, malignancy, diabetes, nerve trauma) are carefully excluded, clinical and electrophysiologic examinations returned to normal or near normal. This is independent of age.
- Prognosis is generally better in patients who are healthy and well nourished. Recovery is presumed to be due to regeneration and collateral sprouting of damaged axons.
- Studies have shown that patients with mild-to-moderate neuropathy can significantly improve, but the improvement is usually incomplete in those with severe findings.
Lettsom JC. Some remarks on the effects of lignum quassiae amarae. Mem Med Soc Lond. 1787;1:128.
Jackson J. On a peculiar disease resulting from the use of ardent spirits. N Engl J Med Surg. 1822;11:351.
Shattuck GC. The relation of beri-beri to polyneuritis from other causes. Am J Tropical Med. 1928;83539-43.
Chopra K, Tiwari V. Alcoholic Neuropathy: Possible Mechanisms and Future Treatment Possibilities. Br J Clin Pharmacol. Oct 11 2011;[Medline].
Manji H. Toxic neuropathy. Curr Opin Neurol. Oct 2011;24(5):484-90. [Medline].
Behse F, Buchthal F. Alcohol Neuropathy: Clinical, Electrophysiological and Biopsy Findings. Ann Neurol. 1977;2:95-110.
Monforte R, Estruch R, Valls-Sole J, et al. Autonomic and peripheral neuropathies in patients with chronic alcoholism. A dose-related toxic effect of alcohol. Arch Neurol. Jan 1995;52(1):45-51. [Medline].
Hallett M, Fox JG, Rogers AE, et al. Controlled studies on the effects of alcohol ingestion on peripheral nerves of macaque monkeys. J Neurol Sci. Aug 1987;80(1):65-71. [Medline].
Dina OA, Khasar SG, Alessandri-Haber N, Bogen O, Chen X, Green PG. Neurotoxic catecholamine metabolite in nociceptors contributes to painful peripheral neuropathy. Eur J Neurosci. Sep 2008;28(6):1180-90. [Medline].
Koike H, Mori K, Misu K, Hattori N, Ito H, Hirayama M. Painful alcoholic polyneuropathy with predominant small-fiber loss and normal thiamine status. Neurology. Jun 26 2001;56(12):1727-32. [Medline].
Koike H, Sobue G. Alcoholic neuropathy. Curr Opin Neurol. Oct 2006;19(5):481-6. [Medline].
Johnson RH, Robinson BJ. Mortality in alcoholics with autonomic neuropathy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. Apr 1988;51(4):476-80. [Medline].
Alvarez P, Ferrari LF, Levine JD. Muscle pain in models of chemotherapy-induced and alcohol-induced peripheral neuropathy. Ann Neurol. Jul 2011;70(1):101-9. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Avaria Mde L, Mills JL, Kleinsteuber K, et al. Peripheral nerve conduction abnormalities in children exposed to alcohol in utero. J Pediatr. Mar 2004;144(3):338-43. [Medline].
Kharbanda PS, Prabhakar S, Chawla YK, Das CP, Syal P. Peripheral neuropathy in liver cirrhosis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. Aug 2003;18(8):922-6. [Medline].
Agelink MW, Malessa R, Weisser U, et al. Alcoholism, peripheral neuropathy (PNP) and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN). J Neurol Sci. Dec 11 1998;161(2):135-42. [Medline].
Dina OA, Khasar SG, Alessandri-Haber N, Green PG, Messing RO, Levine JD. Alcohol-induced stress in painful alcoholic neuropathy. Eur J Neurosci. Jan 2008;27(1):83-92. [Medline].
Hillbom M, Wennberg A. Prognosis of alcoholic peripheral neuropathy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. Jul 1984;47(7):699-703. [Medline].
Adams R, Victor M. Diseases of the nervous system due to nutritional deficiency. In: Principles of Neurology. McGraw-Hill; 1977:757.
Brust JCM, Britton C, Chiriboga CA, et al. Mancall EL, ed. Neurological Complications of Substance Abuse. Vol 3. 1997:89.
Novak DJ, Victor M. The vagus and sympathetic nerves in alcoholic polyneuropathy. Arch Neurol. Apr 1974;30(4):273-84. [Medline].
Victor M. Polyneuropathy due to nutritional deficiency and alcoholism. In: Dyck P, Thomas P, Lambert E, Bunge R, eds. Peripheral Neuropathy. Philadelphia: 1984:1899.
Windebank AJ. Polyneuropathy due to nutritional deficiency and alcoholism. In: Dyck P, Thomas P, Lambert E, Bunge R, eds. Peripheral Neuropathy. Philadelphia: 1993:1310.

