Acute and reversible myoclonic encephalopathy, extrapyramidal syndrome, polyneuropathy caused by chronic disulfiram poisoning
De Sèze, J.; Caparros-Lefebvre, D.; Nkenjuo, J.B.; Hurtevent, J.F.; Petit, H.
Revue Neurologique (Paris) 151(11): 667-669
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-3787 PMID: 8745631 Document Number: 450163
This 44-year woman was admitted for weight loss and global intellectual slowing. She had mild chronic alcoholic neuropathy. She was discontinued alcoholic consumption for 6 months and was given disulfiram (1.5 g/day) since then. She developed over a 5-day period acute neuropathy, confusion and extrapyramidal symptoms with oculo-cephalogyric and dystonic movements and myoclonus. Electromyography revealed a severe polyneuropathy. After disulfiram withdrawal, confusion and extrapyramidal symptoms disappeared within a few days, but sensitivo-motor deficit improved more slowly. Nerve biopsy was suggestive of a pure axonal neuropathy.