Disulfiram-induced polyneurophaty

Introduction. Disulfiram is used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism, because of the unpleasant symptoms produced after ethanol intake. Although it is well tolerated in most patients, one in 15,000 patients will develop peripheral neuropathy every year, which is frequently misdiagnosed as alc...

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Main Authors: Vujisić Slavica, Radulović Ljiljana, Knežević-Apostolski Slađana, Petković Stevan, Vukmirović Filip, Apostolski Slobodan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade 2012-01-01
Series:Vojnosanitetski Pregled
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2012/0042-84501205453V.pdf
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author Vujisić Slavica
Radulović Ljiljana
Knežević-Apostolski Slađana
Petković Stevan
Vukmirović Filip
Apostolski Slobodan
author_facet Vujisić Slavica
Radulović Ljiljana
Knežević-Apostolski Slađana
Petković Stevan
Vukmirović Filip
Apostolski Slobodan
author_sort Vujisić Slavica
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Disulfiram is used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism, because of the unpleasant symptoms produced after ethanol intake. Although it is well tolerated in most patients, one in 15,000 patients will develop peripheral neuropathy every year, which is frequently misdiagnosed as alcoholic neuropathy. Case report. We report clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological and histopathological features in a 19-year-old patient who developed an acute distal sensorymotor neuropathy during the treatment of alcoholism. At the end of 4-month treatment with disulfiram 250 mg/day, the patient complained of weakness in distal segments of the lower limbs associated with burning dysesthesias, numbness and pain in the soles of the feet and the legs below the knees; reduction in foot strength, the absence of ankle jerk tendon reflexes, and tactile stocking pin-pick and vibratory sensory impairment in the lower limbs below the knee. Recovery was successful after treatment cessation. Conclusion. The significance of toxic neuropathy is shown by the fact that the recognition of clinical picture, identifying etiological factors and its elimination may prevent the evolution of polyneuropathy. This allows for more effective treatment of these neuropathies as apposite to idiopathic ones which can be treated only symptomatically. Our case report indicates the possibilities during a period with no serious damage to the axons manifested.
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spelling doaj-art-117eec4248224128b7e476d91f4f3a372025-08-20T03:17:09ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502012-01-0169545347510.2298/VSP1205453VDisulfiram-induced polyneurophatyVujisić SlavicaRadulović LjiljanaKnežević-Apostolski SlađanaPetković StevanVukmirović FilipApostolski SlobodanIntroduction. Disulfiram is used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism, because of the unpleasant symptoms produced after ethanol intake. Although it is well tolerated in most patients, one in 15,000 patients will develop peripheral neuropathy every year, which is frequently misdiagnosed as alcoholic neuropathy. Case report. We report clinical, laboratory, electrophysiological and histopathological features in a 19-year-old patient who developed an acute distal sensorymotor neuropathy during the treatment of alcoholism. At the end of 4-month treatment with disulfiram 250 mg/day, the patient complained of weakness in distal segments of the lower limbs associated with burning dysesthesias, numbness and pain in the soles of the feet and the legs below the knees; reduction in foot strength, the absence of ankle jerk tendon reflexes, and tactile stocking pin-pick and vibratory sensory impairment in the lower limbs below the knee. Recovery was successful after treatment cessation. Conclusion. The significance of toxic neuropathy is shown by the fact that the recognition of clinical picture, identifying etiological factors and its elimination may prevent the evolution of polyneuropathy. This allows for more effective treatment of these neuropathies as apposite to idiopathic ones which can be treated only symptomatically. Our case report indicates the possibilities during a period with no serious damage to the axons manifested.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2012/0042-84501205453V.pdfalcoholismdrug therapydisulfirampolyneuropathies
spellingShingle Vujisić Slavica
Radulović Ljiljana
Knežević-Apostolski Slađana
Petković Stevan
Vukmirović Filip
Apostolski Slobodan
Disulfiram-induced polyneurophaty
Vojnosanitetski Pregled
alcoholism
drug therapy
disulfiram
polyneuropathies
title Disulfiram-induced polyneurophaty
title_full Disulfiram-induced polyneurophaty
title_fullStr Disulfiram-induced polyneurophaty
title_full_unstemmed Disulfiram-induced polyneurophaty
title_short Disulfiram-induced polyneurophaty
title_sort disulfiram induced polyneurophaty
topic alcoholism
drug therapy
disulfiram
polyneuropathies
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2012/0042-84501205453V.pdf
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AT radulovicljiljana disulfiraminducedpolyneurophaty
AT knezevicapostolskislađana disulfiraminducedpolyneurophaty
AT petkovicstevan disulfiraminducedpolyneurophaty
AT vukmirovicfilip disulfiraminducedpolyneurophaty
AT apostolskislobodan disulfiraminducedpolyneurophaty