A Spectrum of Myopathy Associated with Alcoholism

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-67-3-481

A Spectrum of Myopathy Associated with Alcoholism

I. Clinical and Laboratory Features

GERALD T. PERKOFF, M.D., F.A.C.P.;
MARCONI M. DIOSO, M.D.;
VIRGIL BLEISCH, M.D.; and
GEORGE KLINKERFUSS, M.D.

Requests for reprints should be addressed to Gerald T. Perkoff, M.D., St. Louis City Hospital,
1515 Lafayette Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63104
.

Excerpt

Hepatic, neurologic, cardiac, hematologic, and metabolic abnormalities are generally accepted as frequent occurrences in people who drink alcoholic beverages (1-5) to excess. That muscle disease may occur in alcoholism is not as widely known. However, myoglobinuria with severe muscle tenderness and swelling, fever, increased levels of serum glutamic-oxalo-acetic transaminase (SGOT) and other enzymes, and, often, acute renal failure has been reported in several alcoholic patients after severe drinking bouts (6-11).

More recently, we reported studies (12) of a similar but less severe syndrome characterized by muscle tenderness and cramps, increased serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and a diminished ability to increase

This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract.

Article and Author Information

From the Washington University Medical Service and the Snodgras Laboratory, St. Louis City Hospital (Max C. Starkloff Division), and the Departments of Medicine, Pathology, and Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.
This study was supported by grants AM 08377, AM 10062, 5-SO-1 FR 538905, and FR-36, U. S. Public Health Service, Washington, D. C., and by a grant from the Institute of Medical Education and Research of the City of St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo.
- Received January 26, 1967.
- Accepted April 4, 1967.