Alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
The primary aim of this systematic review was to establish the prevalence, character, and risk factors of peripheral neuropathy amongst chronic alcohol abusers and to identify the most appropriate management strategies.
In this review, possible pathogenetic mechanisms are also discussed. A systematic, computer-based search was conducted using the PubMed database. Data regarding the above parameters were extracted. 87 articles were included in this review, 29 case-control studies, 52 prospective/retrospective cohort studies and 2 randomised control trials, 1 cross sectional study, and 3 population-based studies.
The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy amongst chronic alcohol abusers is 46.3% (CI 35.7- 57.3%) when confirmed via nerve conduction studies. Alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy generally presents as a progressive, predominantly sensory axonal length-dependent neuropathy.
The most important risk factor for alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy is the total lifetime dose of ethanol, although other risk factors have been identified including genetic, male gender, and type of alcohol consumed. At present, it is unclear what the pathogenetic mechanisms for the development of neuropathy amongst those who chronically abuse alcohol are, and therefore, it is unknown whether it is attributed to the direct toxic effects of ethanol or another currently unidentified factor.
There is presently sparse data to support a particular management strategy in alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy, but the limited data available appears to support the use of vitamin supplementation, particularly of B-vitamin regimens inclusive of thiamine
Additional Info
-
Authors
Julian T.; Glascow N.; Syeed R.; Zis P. -
Issue
J Neurol. 2019 Dec;266(12):2907-2919 -
Published Date
december 2019
Related items
- Moderate Wine Consumption and Gastrointestinal Diseases
- Examining gender in alcohol research: A systematic review of gender differences in how men and women are studied in alcohol research
- Association between type of alcoholic beverage and all-cause mortality. A population-based prospective study
- Chronic ethanol exposure produces sex-dependent impairments in value computations in the striatum
- Biases inherent in all-cause mortality studies: implications for shaping the 2025-2030 dietary guidelines for Americans on alcohol consumption