[Cerebellar degeneration in chronic alcoholism: with special reference to an autopsied case showing the restricted form of cerebellar cortical degeneration (Victor)].

The brains of 8 patients with chronic alcoholism were neuropathologically examined. The findings obtained in the cerebellum of case 1 (male, aged 52) were in agreement with the restricted form of cerebellar cortical degeneration which was described by Victor et al (1958). The clinicopathological report on the cerebellar degeneration of this type was very rare in Japan. The cerebellar changes were more pronounced in the anterior vermis than in the posterior vermis and hemisphere. Furthermore, some old lesions of Wernicke's encephalopathy were found in this brain. 7 other cases showed very mild cerebellar degeneration. Partial loss of Purkinje cells was found near the tops of cerebellar folia. But their distribution and intensity had no individual variation and there was no tendency that the anterior vermis was more affected. This fact suggests that the alcoholic cerebellar degeneration may have some other cause than the direct toxic effect of ethylalcohol or its metabolites. The etiology of this disease was discussed with reference to thiamine deficiency and mal-nutrition.