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Query: UMLS:C0085584 (encephalopathy)
 18,178 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 25 year old man with a five year history of petrol sniffing developed an acute encephalopathy with abnormal body movements and died of aspiration pneumonia. Neuropathological findings included chromatolysis of neurons in the reticular formation and cerebral cortex and loss of neurons in the h3-5 sector of Ammon's horn and the cerebellum. Toxicological studies suggest that the encephalopathy is caused by the tetraethyl-lead additive in the petrol. These data support previous human and experimental studies.
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PMID:Acute encephalopathy and death due to petrol sniffing: neuropathological findings. 347 Nov 99

Two instances of acute encephalopathy following petrol sniffing in Australian Aboriginals are reported. In one case recovery was incomplete 6 weeks after cessation of exposure to the toxin.
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PMID:Acute encephalopathy following petrol sniffing in two aboriginal patients. 366 69

Substance abuse through the deliberate inhalation of petrol (petrol sniffing or gasoline sniffing) is prevalent in inner-urban and remote rural communities. Although acute toxic encephalopathy is a well-documented consequence of petrol sniffing, the neurological and cognitive effects of chronic petrol sniffing are unknown. A structured neurological examination and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were used to assess neurological and cognitive function in 33 current-sniffers (individuals who had sniffed petrol for >6 months), 30 ex-sniffers (individuals who had sniffed petrol in the past but had abstained for 6 months) and 34 matched non-sniffers (individuals who had never sniffed petrol). No subject was, or had been, encephalopathic from petrol sniffing and all were residing in their community. Blood lead and hydrocarbon levels and information about petrol sniffing behaviour were obtained from each subject. When compared with non-sniffers, current-sniffers showed higher rates of abnormal tandem gait, rapid alternating hand movements, finger to nose movements, postural tremor, bilateral palmomental reflexes and brisk deep reflexes. Cognitive deficits occurred in the areas of visual attention, visual recognition memory and visual paired associate learning. Ex-petrol sniffers showed higher rates of abnormal tandem gait and bilateral palmomental reflexes and cognitive deficits in the areas of visual recognition memory and pattern-location paired associate learning. Blood lead levels and length of time of petrol sniffing correlated significantly with the magnitude of neurological and cognitive deficits. Blood hydrocarbon levels were not related to neurocognitive deficits, although this may have been due to methodological difficulties in obtaining hydrocarbon levels. These results suggest that subtle neurological and cognitive abnormalities do occur in individuals who abuse petrol but who do not have acute toxic encephalopathy and that the severity of these abnormalities is reduced with abstinence.
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PMID:Neurological and cognitive abnormalities associated with chronic petrol sniffing. 979 46

This review will introduce petrol (gasoline) sniffing as a specific form of substance abuse. Petrol sniffing is associated with dysfunctions that range in severity from subtle cognitive impairment to encephalopathy and death, and these are discussed with respect to their specific neurological and cognitive bases. Morbidity and mortality rates will also be presented that suggest severe central nervous system damage occurs as a result of petrol sniffing. The neuropharmacological actions of tetraethyl lead and volatile hydrocarbons, the components within petrol, and their contributions to the effects of sniffing petrol are investigated. Reports of human occupational or recreational exposure to either lead additives or volatile hydrocarbons (i.e. inhalants) have provided evidence of the neurological and cognitive effects that may also occur with petrol sniffing. Petrol sniffing causes a progressive decline of cognitive function that eventually leads to permanent neurological changes.
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PMID:The neurobehavioural consequences of petrol (gasoline) sniffing. 1183 86

Anecdotal observations suggest that neurological impairments associated with petrol (gasoline) sniffing resolve with abstinence, although these effects have not been proven empirically. Severe exposure to leaded petrol may induce a lead encephalopathy that extends beyond any acute intoxication and requires emergency hospital treatment. Previously, in chronic petrol sniffers, we showed neurological, saccadic, and cognitive abnormalities that were more severe in petrol sniffers with a history of hospitalization for lead encephalopathy, and that correlated with blood lead levels and the length of time of sniffing petrol. Ex-petrol sniffers showed a qualitatively similar but quantitatively less severe pattern of impairment. Petrol sniffing was stopped completely in one of the study communities by modifying social, occupational, and recreational opportunities. After 2 years, we obtained biochemical and neurobehavioral (neurological, saccade, and cognitive) data from all available participants of the earlier study including 10 nonsniffers and 29 chronic petrol sniffers, with six of these individuals previously receiving hospital treatment for lead encephalopathy. Here, we report that blood lead was reduced and that neurobehavioral impairments improved, and in many cases normalized completely. The most severe petrol-related neurobehavioral impairment was observed among individuals who had longer histories of abuse and higher blood lead levels, and among petrol sniffers with a history of lead encephalopathy. Those with the greatest extent of neurobehavioral impairment showed the greatest degree of improvement with abstinence, but were less likely to recover completely. This is the first direct evidence that neurological and cognitive impairment from chronic petrol sniffing ameliorates with abstinence and may recover completely.
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PMID:Neurological and cognitive recovery following abstinence from petrol sniffing. 1571 27