A new syndrome with pigmentation, scleroderma, gynaecomastia, Raynaud's phenomenon and peripheral neuropathy

A middle-aged man developed impotence, gynaecomastia, peripheral neuropathy, pigmentation lymphadenopathy, scleroderma, malabsorption and Raynaud's phenomenon following prolonged exposure to trichlorethylene. Somes, but not all, of these features have previously been reported in vinyl chloride disease, and trichlorethylene is related chemically to vinyl chloride. Seven patients with a similar but not identical syndrome have been described in Japan and U.S.A., apparently unrelated to exposure to industrial toxins.