Exposure to industrial solvents and brain atrophy. A retrospective study of pneumoencephalographic findings among 37 patients with exposure to industrial solvents.

Pneumoencephalographic (PEG) findings of 37 patients referred to the Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, because of suspected chronic organic solvent intoxication showed changes suggesting brain atrophy in 64% of the patients. Slight asymmetric central and slight local cortical atrophy were the most common findings. There were no significant difference between those considered having heavy exposure and those with less significant exposure either in regards to PEG findings or other neurological findings. Thus, lack of dose-response relationship in this study suggests nonspecificity of the slight PEG findings and possibly also individual susceptibility to neurotoxic agents.

Neurological picture of organic solvent poisoning in industry. A retrospective clinical study of 37 patients.

A retrospective evaluation of neurological, neuroradiological, neurophysiological, psychological, and laboratory findings on 37 patients, remitted to the Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki because of suspected poisoning due to organic solvents, was performed. Patient selection was made on the basis of performed pneumoencephalography (PEG). Most of the patients had been exposed to a mixture of solvents (19 cases). Carbon disulphide exposure had occurred in six cases, trichloroethylene in five cases, and the rest of the patients had been exposed to styrene (one case), thinner (two cases), toluene (1 case), methanol (1 case), and carbon tetrachloride (two cases). Clinical neurological findings comprised slight psycho-organic alteration, cerebellar dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy. The PEG showed changes suggesting brain atrophy in 63% of the patients. Slight asymmetric central atrophy and localized cortical atrophy were the most frequent findings. The main electroencephalographic finding was slight diffuse slow-wave. Electroneuromyography showed slight changes suggesting peripheral neuropathy in 23 of the 28 patients examined. Psychological alterations were seen in all patients: personality changes and psychomotor disturbances were the most common findings. Because individual constitutional differences existed, no clear-cut exposure-effect relationship could be established. Thus, neurological evaluation of all those exposed to neurotoxic agents who present symptoms, regardless of the degree of current exposure, is important.