Neurológia pre prax 4/2010

Chronic toxic encephalopathy caused by organic solvents

The risk of the central nervous system damage in terms of a chronic toxic encephalopathy caused by long-term low-level exposure to organic solvents is constantly in the focus of interest of the occupational neurology. Clinical manifestation of such a disease involves subjective neurasthenic complaints and subtle non-focal signs in the physical neurological examination. To assess the severity of impairment, two international classification systems are available. The boom of interest in the issue culminated in the 1970s, especially in the Scandinavian countries. Currently, it experiences a revival in connection with reports on findings in the neuroimaging methods, documenting some structural brain changes in the patients, such as the multifocal toxic leukoencephalopathy on MRI. Attempts at the international standardization of diagnosis based mainly on the results of a neuropsychological examination are in progress, to be used especially in the framework of recognition as an occupational disease. However, the number of such cases reported in the Czech Republic is quite low.

Keywords: organic solvents, toxic encephalopathy, solvent syndrome, occupational diseases.