Peripheral neuropathy following intentional inhalation of naphtha fumes.
Two adolescent native Canadians who presented with peripheral neuropathy secondary to the abuse of volatile hydrocarbons are described. They were initially thought to have been sniffing leaded gasoline fumes, but public health investigation revealed that they had been sniffing naphtha fumes. Naphtha contains a significant amount of n-hexane, a known inducer of neuropathy. Nerve conduction studies and nerve biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of naphtha abuse. These cases emphasize the need to specifically identify the formulation of hydrocarbons being abused.
D000293:Adolescent; D000473:Alkanes; D005260:Female; D005742:Gasoline; D006586:Hexanes; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010578:Petroleum; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D000473:Alkanes; D005742:Gasoline; D006586:Hexanes; D010578:Petroleum; C026385:n-hexane; C004544:naphtha