Cerebellar dysfunction related to toluene sniffing

Only few cases with prolonged cerebellar symptoms after toluene sniffing have previously been reported. We describe here an 18-year-old female who inhaled pure toluene since the age of 12. She developed neurological symptoms with broad-based ataxic gait, incoordination of arms and legs, unsteadiness, dysarthria, downbeat nystagmus, bilateral positive Babinski sign, and poor concentration and abstracting ability. During her 5 weeks in hospital when she did not inhale toluene, her symptoms persisted but decreased and after 8 months had disappeared.