Neurotoxicity of hexachlorophene in humans. II. A clinicopathological study of 46 premature infants.
To assess neurotoxic effects of hexachlorophene in the human population previously shown to be most at risk, a blind clinicopathological analysis was made of all premature infants under 1,400 gm birth weight who survived at least four days and were examined by autopsy over a 7.5-year period. Repeated whole-body bathing of premature newborn infants in 3% hexachlorophene-bearing soap (undiluted pHisoHex) shows a significant statistical association with a vacuolar encephalopathy of the brain stem reticular formation. The prevalence of the vacuolar encephalopathy in premature infants on whom we have adequate brain stem histological information appears to be related to the number of exposures to hexachlorophene, the concentration of hexachlorophene, the thoroughness of rinsing, and other factors (including exposure to ultraviolet light).
D000287:Administration, Topical; D001724:Birth Weight; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006582:Hexachlorophene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000473:pathology; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
D006582:Hexachlorophene