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Nitrous oxide-induced myeloneuropathy: a case series

BACKGROUND: Nitrous oxide (N(2)O) is the second most common recreational drug used by 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK. Neurological symptoms can occur in some people that use N(2)O recreationally, but most information comes from small case series. METHODS: We describe 119 patients with N(2)O-myeloneur...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Mair, Devan, Paris, Alvar, Zaloum, Safiya A, White, Laura M, Dodd, Katherine C, Englezou, Christina, Patel, Farhin, Abualnaja, Siraj, Lilleker, James B, Gosal, David, Hayton, Tom, Liang, Di, Allroggen, Holger, Pucci, Mark, Keddie, Stephen, Noyce, Alastair J
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: BMJ Publishing Group 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10447413/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37253616
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2023-331131
Descripción
Sumario:BACKGROUND: Nitrous oxide (N(2)O) is the second most common recreational drug used by 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK. Neurological symptoms can occur in some people that use N(2)O recreationally, but most information comes from small case series. METHODS: We describe 119 patients with N(2)O-myeloneuropathy seen at NHS teaching hospitals in three of the UK’s largest cities: London, Birmingham and Manchester. This work summarises the clinical and investigative findings in the largest case series to date. RESULTS: Paraesthesia was the presenting complaint in 85% of cases, with the lower limbs more commonly affected than the upper limbs. Gait ataxia was common, and bladder and bowel disturbance were frequent additional symptoms. The mid-cervical region of the spinal cord (C3–C5) was most often affected on MRI T2-weighted imaging. The number of N(2)O canisters consumed per week correlated with methylmalonic acid levels in the blood as a measure of functional B(12) deficiency (rho (ρ)=0.44, p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Preventable neurological harm from N(2)O abuse is increasingly seen worldwide. Ease of access to canisters and larger cylinders of N(2)O has led to an apparent rise in cases of N(2)O-myeloneuropathy in several areas of the UK. Our results highlight the range of clinical manifestations in a large group of patients to improve awareness of risk, aid early recognition, and promote timely treatment.