Gender and peripheral neuropathy in chronic alcoholism: A clinical-electroneurographic study

In some alcohol-related pathologies of chronic alcoholism women are more vu lnerable than men. A consecutive sample of 62 chronic alcoholics was studie d, 18 females and 44 males, aged between 28 and 69 years to assess the inci dence and distribution of peripheral neuropathy with regard to gender. All patients underwent clinical and neurological observations, laboratory tests , and electroneurography. Total lifetime dose of ethanol (TLDE) and other r isk factors for neuropathy (disease duration, age, nutritional status) were calculated and correlated to sural nerve sensory-evoked potential (SEP) am plitude. In 42 patients (67.7%), we observed the presence of clinical and/o r infraclinical neuropathy, mostly axonal, in 29 males (65.9%) and 13 femal es (72.2%). In women, compared to men, TLDE and disease duration were signi ficantly inversely correlated to sural nerve SEP amplitude, i.e in women, S EP amplitude is significantly reduced in relation to TLDE and disease durat ion increase. These data indicate a higher sensitivity of females towards t he toxic effects of ethanol, other than malnutrition, on peripheral nerve f ibres.