ALCOHOLIC MYOPATHIES

Ethanol consumption may produce acute or chronic changes in striated s keletal muscle in a dose-dependent manner. The physiopathological mech anisms for such changes are probably related to alterations in membran e fluidity, channels, pumps and ionic transients, depression oi muscle contractility, protein synthesis and genetic problems. In patients wi th alcoholic myopathies, multiorgan involvement is frequent and revers ibility is only partially achieved by abstinence.