title: Prolonged central sensory conduction time in patients with chronic arsenic exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many patients from Toroku, Japan, who have chronic arsenic exposure demonstrate whole-body sensory disturbance that is slightly more pronounced in the extremities. Although previous research in this population showed a mild peripheral neuropathy, it is unknown whether these patients have central nervous system impairment. To investigate the lesion sites underlying sensory disturbance related to chronic arsenic poisoning, we analyzed somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical features, nerve conduction study results, and median and/or tibial SEP were analyzed in patients with chronic arsenic exposure (total, 13 patients; median & tibial, 4; median, 5; tibial, 4) retrospectively. The SEP findings in patients were compared with those in normal controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median SEP results indicated a conduction delay between the proximal brachial plexus and the primary sensory cortex, and tibial SEP findings indicated a delay between the dorsal gray matter of the lumbosacral cord and the primary sensory cortex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to identify an impairment of the central somatosensory pathway in patients with chronic arsenic exposure. Sensory disturbance in these patients is related not only to peripheral neuropathy but also to impairment of the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan. Electronic address: mochizuki-h@umin.net.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mochizuki
authors.affiliation: Brain and Nerve Center, Junwakai Memorial Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yagi
authors.affiliation: Brain and Nerve Center, Junwakai Memorial Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuruta
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Akitoshi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shiomi
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakazato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001151:Arsenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Arsenic exposure; Central sensory conduction time; Nervous system; Somatosensory evoked potential; Toxicity