[Alcoholic myopathy].

Six cases of alcoholic myopathy (two acute and four chronic) are reported. Histologically, cases of acute alcoholic myopathy showed dystrophic changes of the sarcoplasm (especially in the muscles of lower extremities), ending with total rhabdomyolysis. In chronic cases, histology revealed selective atrophy of muscle fibers of the 2nd type. Both direct and indirect effects of alcohol are discussed in the pathogenesis as well as the metabolic disturbances caused by acetaldehyde, a metabolic product of ethanol. Possible predisposition factors are taken into consideration and the differential diagnosis mainly between alcoholic myopathy and the clinically heterogeneous group of myopathies is surveyed.