Sensory-motor axonal polyneuropathy involving cranial nerves: An uncommon manifestation of disulfiram toxicity

Telma Santos; António Martins Campos; Hugo Morais

doi:10.1016/j.clineuro.2016.11.005

Sensory-motor axonal polyneuropathy involving cranial nerves: An uncommon manifestation of disulfiram toxicity

Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2017 Jan:152:12-15. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2016.11.005. Epub 2016 Nov 10.

Authors

Telma Santos¹, António Martins Campos², Hugo Morais²

Affiliations

¹ Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: telma.cristiana.santos@gmail.com.
² Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, Porto, Portugal.

PMID: 27846399
DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2016.11.005

Abstract

Disulfiram (tetraethylthiuram disulfide) has been used for the treatment of alcohol dependence. An axonal sensory-motor polyneuropathy with involvement of cranial pairs due to disulfiram is exceedingly rare. The authors report a unique case of an extremely severe axonal polyneuropathy involving cranial nerves that developed within weeks after a regular dosage of 500mg/day disulfiram. To the authors best knowledge, such a severe and rapidly-progressive course has never been described with disulfiram dosages of only 500mg/day.

Keywords: Alcohol; Disulfiram; Neuropathy.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Alcohol Deterrents / administration & dosage
Alcohol Deterrents / toxicity*
Alcoholism / drug therapy*
Cranial Nerves / drug effects*
Disulfiram / administration & dosage
Disulfiram / toxicity*
Humans
Male
Polyneuropathies / chemically induced*

Substances

Alcohol Deterrents
Disulfiram