Peripheral neuropathy and visual evoked potential changes in workers exposed to n-hexane.
The aim of this study was to evaluate patients who had peripheral neuropathy and changes to their visual evoked responses resulting from exposure to n-hexane. Eighteen patients with acute or subacute neuropathy, who were working in a shoe factory, were investigated clinically and electrophysiologically. These evaluations were then repeated 9 months to 12 months after cessation of exposure to n-hexane. Results of the nerve conduction studies predominantly showed a decrease in motor and sensory conduction velocities. Between 9 and 12 months after cessation of exposure to n-hexane, 83.3% of patients had a complete clinical recovery. The electrophysiological studies also revealed improvement to the majority of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities. The results of the visual evoked potential (VEP) studies were considered normal at admission, however, the P100 latencies at the 9-month to 12-month retest had improved (p < 0.05). As the abnormalities identified with clinical examination and nerve conduction studies, and the subclinical abnormalities revealed through VEP assessment, could be reversed after exposure to n-hexane had ceased, the clinical prognosis was usually good.
Kutlu
Gulnihal
G
Ministry of Health Ankara Research and Training Hospital, Department of Neurology, Altay Mah Selcuklular Cad KC, Goksu Konutlari A33/9, Eryaman, Ankara, Turkey. gulnihalkutlu@yahoo.com
Gomceli
Yasemin B
YB
Sonmez
Tolga
T
Inan
Levent E
LE
D000269:Adhesives / Q000633:toxicity*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006586:Hexanes / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000269:Adhesives; D006586:Hexanes; C026385:n-hexane