Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) study in chronic arsenic poisoning patients.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possible neurotoxicity of arsenic to auditory sensory pathways and evaluate roles of BAEPs in the detection of early brain damage resulting from arsenic exposure.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analytic study.


METHODS
Twenty nine females with skin lesions consistent with arsenical dermatoses and 27 controls who met the inclusion criteria were investigatetd by Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEPs). Case findings resulted from a house-to-house survey in village 12, Ronphibun subdistrict and village 5, Saothong subdistrict, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand in 1995.


RESULTS
Differences between the arsenic-exposed population and the referent group regarding BAEP parameters, BAEP latencies and interpeak latencies were not found.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence of the abnormalities of the auditory sensory pathways was not found among female patients with arsenical dermtoses in Ronphibun. The role of BAEPs in the detection of brain damage resulting from arsenic exposure could not be demonstrated.
Supapong
Soontorn
S
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Sriratanabun
Jiruth
J
D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000150:complications*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic