AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHY IN CHRONIC-ALCOHOLISM - EVALUATION OF CARDIOVASCULAR, PUPILLARY AND SYMPATHETIC SKIN-RESPONSES

Autonomic nerve function was evaluated in 30 alcoholics and 30 healthy subjects by means of cardiovascular function tests, pupil cycle time (PCT), and sympathetic skin responses (SSR). Nutritional status was as sessed by anthropometric parameters. Autonomic cardiovascular dysfunct ion was classified as early involvement in 5 patients, definite in 8, severe in 6 and atypical in 3. PCT was abnormal in 17 alcoholics. The duration of PCT became progressively longer as the severity of cardiov ascular involvement increased. SSR was absent in 4 alcoholics in the p alm and in 16 in the sole. These findings indicate that sympathetic an d parasympathetic mediated functions are abnormal in chronic alcoholic s with a similar frequency, involving different sites of the autonomic nervous system under variable patterns. Significant correlations betw een nutritional status and autonomic neuropathy were found.