title: Neurological aspects of vibroacoustic disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mood and behavioral abnormalities are the most common early findings related to vibroacoustic disease (VAD). Other signs and symptoms have been observed in VAD patients. Brain MRI discloses small multifocal lesions in about 50% of subjects with more than 10 yr of occupational exposure to large pressure amplitude (> or = 90 dB SPL) and low frequency (< or = 500 Hz) (LPALF) noise. However, to date, there have been no studies globally integrating all the neurological, imaging and neurophysiological data of VAD patients. This is the main goal of this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 60 male Caucasians diagnosed with VAD were neurologically evaluated in extreme detail in order to systematically identify the most common and significant neurological disturbances in VAD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This population demonstrates cognitive changes (identified through psychological and neurophysiological studies (ERP P300)), vertigo and auditory changes, visual impairment, epilepsy, and cerebrovascular diseases. Neurological examination reveals pathological signs and reflexes, most commonly the palmo-mental reflex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A vascular pattern underlying the multifocal hyperintensities in T2 MR imaging, with predominant involvement of the small arteries of the white matter, is probably the visible organic substratum of the neurological picture. However, other pathophyisological mechanisms are involved in epileptic symptomatology.
authors: Santo António dos Capuchos Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Martinho Pimenta
authors: N A
authors: NA
authors: Castelo Branco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000401:Aircraft; D000786:Anger; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology