Disulfiram neuropathy. A morphometric study of sural nerve.

This report describes peripheral nerve morphology in 3 patients whose acute polyneuropathy followed disulfiram therapy. In all patients a combination of axonal degeneration with segmental demyelination and remyelination was seen, suggesting a varying degree of toxicity to both cytons and Schwann cells. The observed randomness of abnormal internodes argued against primary axonal atrophy and secondary demyelination. While large myelinated fibres were preferentially lost, ultrastructural studies also suggested degeneration of unmyelinated fibres. Because of high chloral consumption at the onset of peripheral nerve disease in 2 patients, the possibility of disulfiram-chloral interaction was considered. Present evidence suggests that the combined use of chloral or its derivatives with disulfiram is best avoided.