First epileptic seizure induced by occupational nickel poisoning.
Toxic causes of seizures are numerous: alcohol and other substances of abuse, drugs, and industrial and household products. However, in the absence of a clearly suggestive history and/or associated symptoms and signs, identification of the toxic origin of new-onset seizures may be extremely difficult. We report here the case of a patient admitted in our hospital after a single generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The remarkable coincidence that a colleague of his, with whom he was working to clean the same workshop, had been admitted 1 week earlier for respiratory distress, coma, and de novo nonconvulsive focal status epilepticus, led us to consider a possible toxicologic etiology. Urine analysis revealed a high nickel concentration, suggestive of acute nickel poisoning.
Denays
Roger
R
Department of Neurology, Brugmann University Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
Kumba
Claudine
C
Lison
Dominique
D
De Bels
David
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009532:Nickel / Q000506:poisoning*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine
D009532:Nickel