[Value of electroencephalographic examination in the diagnosis of chronic carbon dioxide poisoning]

The aim of this study was to assess the value of EEG examination for the diagnosis of chronic CS2 intoxication in individual cases. 100 electroencephalograms obtained from a sample of 100 workers suspected of CS2 intoxication, treated in clinical department were analysed. The mean age of the group was 51, the mean duration of exposure was 24 years. Chronic CS2 intoxication was diagnosed in 49 persons, with prevalence of psycho-organic syndrome in 23 of them. Out of 100 EEG records, 35 were normal, 48 in normal limits, 12 within the border zone, 5 records were abnormal. In the group of 49 patients with chronic CS2 intoxication 3 records were abnormal, 6 were in the border zone. EEG disorders were found with the similar incidence in groups that differed as far as the clinical picture and the CS2 exposure period. In the authors opinion results of the EEG investigations cannot be considered as a reliable criterion in the diagnosis of chronic CS2 intoxication. The appearance of EEG abnormalities in workers exposed to CS2 should give rise to perform a more rigorous and extended neurological examination.