Peripheral neuritis after addiction to petrol.

Peripheral Neuropathy due to Gasoline Sniffing

“…In our opinion, the neuropathy observed in our patient is ascribable to gasoline vapor inhalation for three reasons: (1) the illness began after long addiction and slow regression ensued when exposure was stopped; (2) the clinical picture and course were similar to those described in cases of neuropathy due to gaso line vapor inhalation in addicted (Karani, 1966;Mizon et al, 1976;Seshia et al, 1978) or in accidentally exposed patients (Contamin et al, 1960), and (3) the lack of more probable causes, as surmised from tire clinical history and laboratory data. The hypothesis of a GuillainBarre syndrome does not hold, since one of the criteria for such diagnosis is lack of exposure to hydrocarbons (NINCDS Committee, 1978).…”

“…Only sporadic cases of peripheral neuropathy have been described, among which 1 by Karani (1966) and 1 by Mizon et al (1976). Out of 50 children, chronic gasoline sniffers, 2 were found by Seshia et al (1978) to have motor neuropathy without sensory disturbances.…”