Nerve-conduction

Alteraciones del reflejo H, reflejo de parpadeo y neuroconducción en pacientes alcohólicos crónicos.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine alterations of the Blink-reflex (BR), H-reflex (HR) and nerve-conduction in a group of alcoholic patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 21 alcoholic patients with an average age of 43.5 years. The history of alcohol abuse was 22 ± 7.4 years. At the time of the study, none of the patients had ingested alcohol for more than 30 days. Results: BR component alterations were as follows: R1 right 19.0%, R2 right 57.1%, R2 right contralateral 71.4%, R1 left 9.5%, R2 left 61.9% y R2 left contralateral 52.4%. Only the R2 right and left ipsi and contralateral latancies were significantly prolonged (P < 0.05). The H-reflex was absent in 90.5% of the patients. There was no significant difference in the comparison of sensitive or motor nerve-conduction speed between alcoholics and healthy subjects. Conclusions: The absence of H-reflex was the most frequently found electrophysiological alteration in this group of alcoholic individuals.