PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY IN LIVER-CIRRHOSIS - A CLINICAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY

Clinical symptoms and/or signs of peripheral neuropathy were found in 17 of the 19 patients we studied with liver cirrhosis. In 16 of the 19 patients electrophysiological abnormalities were also observed, Mild- moderate alterations involved both motor and sensory fibres, with a hi gher incidence in the lower rather than upper limbs, and indicated a f ibre loss rather than a fibre demyelination, These changes were observ ed in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhotics, suggesting a primar y role of liver cirrhosis per se, In fact, both the clinical and elect rophysiological abnormalities were related to the severity of the live r disease. A careful clinical examination could reveal the presence an d extent of neuropathy in most cirrhotic patients.