양측 하지마비증상을 동반한 말초신경병증을 보인 알코올의존 환자 치료 1례

A Case of Alcoholic Neuropathy in Alcohol Dependent Patient with Tetraparesis：A differential Diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome

Problems related to chronic alcohol use common in neuropsychiatric fields, but the concerns about alcoholic neuropathy is much lower to clinicians than other alcohol related problems. We experienced a 54 year-old male alcohol dependent patient who complained of the weakness in both lower legs. He suddenly could not stand or walk showing the flaccid tetraparesis and areflexia on hospital day 7. We should differentiate alcoholic neuropathy from Guillain-Barre syndrome clinically. He showed abnormal electromyographic finding with predominantly no sensory potential and no sensory nerve conduction velocity in lower legs. We successfully treated alcoholic neuropathic pain with amitryptiline without any side effect. According to this case, Psychiatrists should pay more attention to alcoholic neuropathy in alcohol related patients via detailed physical examination, and treat them more aggressively without any fear.