Evoked trigeminal nerve potential in chronic trichloroethylene intoxication

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Occupational Health
• Toxicology

Background:

• Industrial solvent exposure, particularly to trichloroethylene, is a common occupational hazard.
• Trichloroethylene intoxication can lead to selective neurological disturbances, notably affecting the trigeminal nerve.
• Previous research indicates a significant percentage of chronically exposed workers exhibit trigeminal nerve issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate trigeminal nerve impairment in workers chronically exposed to trichloroethylene.
• To utilize the somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP) method to detect neurotoxic effects.
• To correlate clinical findings with electrophysiological abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• Somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP) recordings following trigeminal nerve stimulation were employed.
• A cohort of 188 workers with chronic trichloroethylene exposure was studied.
• 11 workers (9 intoxicated, 2 controls) with preliminary clinical evaluations were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Three types of SEP abnormalities were identified: increased stimulation voltage, delayed latency with morphological changes, and excessive graph amplitude.
• These electrophysiological findings correlate with clinical symptoms of trigeminal nerve hypesthesia.
• The study confirmed a 20% prevalence of trigeminal nerve disturbances in chronically exposed workers.

Conclusions:

• Trichloroethylene neurotoxicity selectively affects the trigeminal nerve, manifesting in identifiable SEP abnormalities.
• The SEP method is a valuable tool for diagnosing and understanding the mechanisms of trichloroethylene-induced neurotoxicity.
• Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the neurotoxic mechanisms of industrial solvents.