Encephalopathy and polyneuropathy induced by organic solvents

Twenty-six patients with previous heavy exposure to organic solvents were admitted to a neurological department during a 1 1/2 year period. They were studied with a battery of tests, including general medical and neurological examinations, neuropsychological tests, electroencephalography (EEG) and neurography with electromyography (EMG), and cerebral computerized tomography (CT). The presenting complaints were compatible with encephalopathy and/or polyneuropathy. When patients with alternative diagnosis were excluded, 17 patients (65%) of the initial group were diagnosed as belonging to the organic solvent syndrome. These patients had a mean time of solvent exposure of 23.9 years, ranging from one to 45 years. EEG and cerebral CT showed minor deviations only as did the neurological examination. These methods proved nevertheless of importance in excluding alternative etiologies. Neuropsychological test performances were markedly reduced, especially short-term memory. All patients were injured by occupational exposure to organic solvents, most often from painting and lacquering. Encephalopathy was a more frequent finding than polyneuropathy, and most often classified as slight or marked, whereas severe encephalopathy was not found in the present group.