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Related Experiment Videos

"Eco-syndrome" ("multiple chemical sensitivity"--MCS).

J Ring1, B Eberlein-König, H Behrendt

  • 1Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie am Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Germany. Johannes.Ring@lrz.tu-muenchen.de

Zentralblatt Fur Hygiene Und Umweltmedizin = International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine
|October 3, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Patients with self-diagnosed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) or eco-syndrome present with diverse symptoms. Investigations reveal a heterogeneous group, often with underlying psychiatric or psychosomatic issues, rather than solely environmental triggers.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Medicine
  • Allergology
  • Psychosomatic Medicine

Background:

  • Increasing patient numbers report allergies to environmental agents, termed "Eco-Syndrome" or "Multiple Chemical Sensitivity" (MCS).
  • Lack of understanding in etiopathophysiology hinders diagnosis and treatment for these complex, often polysomatic complaints.
  • Patients frequently undergo extensive specialist consultations and unproven alternative therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the underlying causes of hypersensitivity phenomena attributed to environmental factors.
  • To differentiate between somatic, psychosomatic, and environmental triggers in patients with idiopathic environmental intolerances.
  • To evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients presenting with "eco-syndrome".

Main Methods:

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  • Intensive interdisciplinary and allergological investigations since the early 1980s.
  • Assessment of psychiatric and psychosomatic disturbances in affected patients.
  • Measurement of indoor air pollutants (aromatic hydrocarbons, terpenes) in patient environments.

Main Results:

  • Approximately two-thirds of patients showed evident psychiatric or psychosomatic disturbances.
  • One-third of patients had somatic pathophysiological conditions identified as the primary cause of complaints.
  • Elevated indoor air pollutant levels were observed in some cases but did not consistently explain the primary symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Patients with hypersensitivity to indoor air pollution form a heterogeneous group.
  • Evidence for "Multiple Chemical Sensitivity" (MCS) as a distinct entity is lacking; it is often self-diagnosed.
  • "Eco-syndrome" serves as a working diagnosis for interdisciplinary evaluation of this diverse patient group.
  • Mutual confidence is crucial for managing these patients; the role of indoor pollutants requires further research.