Brain, Vol 121, Issue 10 1903-1917, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
P Maruff, CB Burns, P Tyler, BJ Currie and J Currie
Substance abuse through the deliberate inhalation of petrol (petrol
sniffing or gasoline sniffing) is prevalent in inner-urban and remote rural
communities. Although acute toxic encephalopathy is a well- documented
consequence of petrol sniffing, the neurological and cognitive effects of
chronic petrol sniffing are unknown. A structured neurological examination
and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were
used to assess neurological and cognitive function in 33 current-sniffers
(individuals who had sniffed petrol for >6 months), 30 ex-sniffers
(individuals who had sniffed petrol in the past but had abstained for 6
months) and 34 matched non- sniffers (individuals who had never sniffed
petrol). No subject was, or had been, encephalopathic from petrol sniffing
and all were residing in their community. Blood lead and hydrocarbon levels
and information about petrol sniffing behaviour were obtained from each
subject. When compared with non-sniffers, current-sniffers showed higher
rates of abnormal tandem gait, rapid alternating hand movements, finger to
nose movements, postural tremor, bilateral palmomental reflexes and brisk
deep reflexes. Cognitive deficits occurred in the areas of visual
attention, visual recognition memory and visual paired associate learning.
Ex-petrol sniffers showed higher rates of abnormal tandem gait and
bilateral palmomental reflexes and cognitive deficits in the areas of
visual recognition memory and pattern-location paired associate learning.
Blood lead levels and length of time of petrol sniffing correlated
significantly with the magnitude of neurological and cognitive deficits.
Blood hydrocarbon levels were not related to neurocognitive deficits,
although this may have been due to methodological difficulties in obtaining
hydrocarbon levels. These results suggest that subtle neurological and
cognitive abnormalities do occur in individuals who abuse petrol but who do
not have acute toxic encephalopathy and that the severity of these
abnormalities is reduced with abstinence.
ARTICLES
Neurological and cognitive abnormalities associated with chronic petrol sniffing
Swinburne University of Technology, Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. paul@neuro.mhri.edu.au
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