Alcohol myopathy. Diagnosis by alcohol challenge
Spector, R.; Choudhury, A.; Cancilla, P.; Lakin, R.
JAMA 242(15): 1648-1649
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0098-7484 PMID: 480583 Document Number: 153013
Acute alcoholic myopathy is induced by excessive amounts of alcohol. Symptoms include tenderness, muscle cramps, elevated serum creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) activity and nonspecific degeneration and regeneration of muscle fibers. The chronic condition is characterized by muscle weakness. A patient with no history of alcohol or drug abuse was diagnosed as having myopathy of unknown cause based on muscle biopsy. The patient was challenged with six 12-oz. cans of beer, drunk within four hours, after which muscle cramps worsened and CPK activity increased, confirming the diagnosis. Alcohol challenge can be a useful diagnostic aid to the physician and directly demonstrates to the alcoholic patient the cause of his disease and its aggravating effects.