Li Y, Dong J, Xu R, Feng F, Kan W, Ding H, Wang X, Chen Y, Wang X, Zhu S, Dong R. Clinical epidemiological characteristics of nitrous oxide abusers: A single-center experience in a hospital in China.
Brain Behav 2021;
11:e2416. [PMID:
34775689 PMCID:
PMC8671768 DOI:
10.1002/brb3.2416]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE
This study investigated the clinical epidemiological characteristics of nitrous oxide (N2 O) abusers in a hospital in China, which have not been systematically reported.
METHODS
The characteristics of patients abusing N2 O who were examined and treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2017 to December 2020 were analyzed.
RESULTS
A total of 61 patients (average age: 21.7 ± 3.2 years; 42 male and 19 female) were enrolled; 60.7% of the patients had an education level of high school or lower, and most (59.0%) had no stable occupation. The mean exposure time was 8.5 ± 7.7 months (range: 1-36 months). Only 52.5% of the abusers reported the physician of the relevant exposure history at the first time of visiting the doctor. The main clinical type was mixed (49.2%). The most common clinical manifestation was distal limb numbness (80.3%). The most frequent outcome was peripheral neuropathy (59%) and subacute combined degeneration (36%). Serum homocysteine level was elevated in 67.5% (27/40) of the patients, while 44.4% (20/45) showed reduced vitamin B12. Note that 61% (22/36) showed abnormal signals in the posterior or lateral funiculus of the spinal cord, and 97% (31/32) of the patients showed peripheral nerve damage by electromyography. In all cases, symptoms were alleviated after halting N2 O intake and receiving nutritional neurotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS
N2 O abuse can lead to nervous system damage, especially peripheral nerve and spinal cord damage. A full understanding of its clinical epidemiological characteristics is helpful for clinicians to make a timely and clear diagnosis.
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