[Late sequelae after occupational exposure to organic solvents. Exposure assessment in diagnosing chronic toxic...

Organic solvents are debated as a cause of chronic toxic encephalopathy. The pathogenesis is not completely known. There are some indications of structural changes in the central nervous system. Epidemiological studies are saddled with potential faults and methodological problems, but in total the epidemiological evidence for a causal association between solvents and encephalopathy is sound. The first step in the diagnosis is to demonstrate encephalopathy by neurological and neuropsychological methods. The next step is to estimate the probability of solvents being the cause of this encephalopathy. Misjudgement of diagnosis is often due to uncertainty in the exposure evaluation. We discuss elements of the exposure assessment, and outline neuropsychological testing as part of the diagnostic process.