Methyl iodide poisoning: report of two cases.
Two workers were poisoned following exposure to methyl iodide with inadequate protective devices. Their cases are presented together with a review of literature. Both patients developed symptoms and signs of cerebellar lesions and damage of the third, fourth, or sixth cranial nerve pathways. Spinal cord lesions producing motor and sensory disturbances were present in one. Late psychiatric disorders were observed in both patients. Although these symptoms were very similar to those reported in the nine published cases of methyl iodide poisoning, the toxicological diagnosis was delayed in one case: as repeated overexposure produced recurrent attacks of multifocal neurological dysfunction, multiple sclerosis was initially diagnosed, although several of the features observed are unusual in this disease. The manifestations of methyl iodide poisoning are similar to those of intoxication with other monohalomethanes. All these compounds probably share the same mechanisms of action. This mechanism and its therapeutic consequences are discussed.
Institut Interuniversitaire de Médecine du Travail de Paris-Ile-de-France, Hôpital Fernand Widal, France.
C
C
Hermouet
R
R
Garnier
M
M
Efthymiou
P
P
Fournier
D000010:Abducens Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002617:Chemical Industry; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006847:Hydrocarbons, Iodinated / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009802:Oculomotor Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D012008:Recurrence; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014321:Trochlear Nerve / Q000187:drug effects
D006847:Hydrocarbons, Iodinated; C014055:methyl iodide