
doi: 10.1159/000079935
pmid: 15273428
<i>Purpose:</i> The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of blink reflex as a method for obtaining early diagnosis of cranial nerve involvement in alcoholic patients. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> The study was conducted on 30 male alcoholics with a mean age of 43 years. They had histories of alcohol abuse for at least 6 years (mean: 25). At the time of recording, they had undergone detoxification treatment for a mean of 27 days. <i>Results:</i> R1 (early response), R2Y (second ipsilateral response), and R2C (second contralateral response) latencies in alcoholics were prolonged relative to controls and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.02, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). According to the defined criteria, 40% of the patients had abnormal responses, and the most common abnormality was the unilateral prolongation of R1 (13%). <i>Conclusion:</i> Finding abnormal blink reflex responses in alcoholic patients has suggested that blink reflex testing is a useful method for the evaluation of subclinical cranial nerve involvement in alcoholic patients. Blink reflex testing may be useful in detecting early changes and in the follow-up of alcoholic disorder.
Adult, Male, Blinking, Reflex, Abnormal, Electromyography, Middle Aged, Electric Stimulation, Functional Laterality, Alcoholism, Case-Control Studies, Chronic Disease, Reaction Time, Humans, Evoked Potentials, Aged
Adult, Male, Blinking, Reflex, Abnormal, Electromyography, Middle Aged, Electric Stimulation, Functional Laterality, Alcoholism, Case-Control Studies, Chronic Disease, Reaction Time, Humans, Evoked Potentials, Aged
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