Mechanisms of the development of skeletal muscle atrophy in chronic alcohol intoxication

Abstract

Chronic alcohol myopathy (CAM) is one of frequent manifestationsof the alcoholic disease, but its pathogenesis remains to be elucidated.Main mechanism of the CAM development is suggested tobe abnormalities of protein synthesis in muscle fibers. A complexclinical, morphological and biochemical investigation of 38 patientswith chronic alcohol intoxication was performed. Clinical manifestationsof skeletal muscle damage corresponded to severity of theatrophic process assessed by histological studies of muscle biopsies.Disturbances of main stages of protein synthesis both on intracellularand on systemic regulatory level was revealed.

Keywords

• chronic alcohol myopathy
• protein synthesis
• insulin-like growth factor i
• protein electrophoresis