Influence of alcohol on gait in patients with essential tremor.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study the effect of ethanol on gait in patients with essential tremor (ET).

METHODS:

Using a three-dimensional opto-electronic gait analysis system, the authors analyzed gait at free-speed walking, at a given velocity, and during tandem gait. Patients with ET with advanced disease were examined before and after a small oral dose of ethanol. The results of the patients with ET were compared with those from age-matched healthy controls (HCs). The primary outcome criteria were the number of missteps and the ataxia score during tandem gait.

RESULTS:

Before alcohol, patients with ET had more missteps and an abnormal ataxia score compared with HCs. The ingestion of alcohol with a mean blood level of 0.45% led to a significant improvement of the ataxia score and the number of missteps. HCs showed a worsening of the ataxia score and an increase of the number of missteps after alcohol, which failed to reach significance.

CONCLUSIONS:

Orally administered ethanol improved gait ataxia in patients with essential tremor (ET). This may reflect a reversible effect of ethanol on receptors being involved in the pathology of ET. Ethanol may act via an influence of the inferior olive or directly on alcohol-sensitive gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors within the cerebellum.

• Authors: S Klebe, H Stolze, K Grensing, J Volkmann, R Wenzelburger, G Deuschl
• Journal: Neurology (Neurology) Vol. 65 Issue 1 Pg. 96-101 (Jul 12 2005) ISSN: 1526-632X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 16009892 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Central Nervous System Depressants
• Receptors, GABA
• Ethanol

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Brain (drug effects, physiology, physiopathology)
• Central Nervous System Depressants (blood, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cerebellum (drug effects, physiology, physiopathology)
• Essential Tremor (complications, drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Ethanol (blood, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Gait Disorders, Neurologic (drug therapy, etiology, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Models, Neurological
• Neural Inhibition (drug effects, physiology)
• Neural Pathways (drug effects, physiology, physiopathology)
• Olivary Nucleus (drug effects, physiology, physiopathology)
• Receptors, GABA (drug effects)
• Treatment Outcome