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. 2019 Feb 22;110(1):56-62.
doi: 10.23749/mdl.v111i1.7714.

Epileptic seizures and occupational exposure to solvents: a cases series

Najla Mechergui  1 , Imen Youssef, Nejla Ben Charrada, Nadia Ben Ali, Mohamed Fredj, Nizar Ladhari
Affiliations

Epileptic seizures and occupational exposure to solvents: a cases series

Najla Mechergui et al. Med Lav. .

Abstract
in English, Italian

Introduction: Organic solvents (OS) are substances with well-known nervous system tropism. Long-term exposure can cause several neurological and neuropsychic manifestations (mainly toxic encephalopathy). A potential causal relation between epileptic seizures and exposure to OS remains controversial.

Methods: We report seven cases of patients with no neurological history who had been professionally exposed to OS and who had at least one epileptic seizure after exposure. Selection of these cases was based on medical records of patients who were referred to the occupational health department of Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis during the period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014.

Results: Cases studies concerned five men and two women aged between 29 and 46. Professional seniority ranged from 2 to 31 years. In all cases, epileptic seizures occurred after exposure to a mixture of solvents. It was concluded, according to workplace inspections, that there was an important daily and direct OS exposure. Working conditions were considered as defective. Six cases had generalized seizures, one patient presented with status epilepticus. Illness onset occurred between one and nine years after the beginning of exposure to OS.

Conclusion: These cases suggest a possible relationship between OS exposure and onset of epilepsy.

«Attacchi epilettici ed esposizione a solventi».

Introduzione:: I solventi organici (SO) sono sostanze che provocano effetti tossici sul sistema nervoso. L’esposizione prolungata può causare gravi manifestazioni neurologiche e neuropsichiche, in primis l’encefalopatia tossica. Però, la potenziale relazione causale tra attacchi epilettici ed esposizione a SO rimane controversa.

Metodi:: Vengono presentati i casi di sette pazienti senza una precedente storia di disturbi neurologici, esposti a SO sul luogo di lavoro e che hanno sofferto almeno una crisi epilettica nel periodo di esposizione. I casi sono stati selezionati esaminando le cartelle cliniche dei pazienti giunti all’attenzione del dipartimento di medicina del lavoro dell’Ospedale Charles Nicolle di Tunisi nel periodo 1 gennaio 2010 - 31 dicembre 2014.

Risultati:: I casi analizzati riguardano cinque uomini e due donne, di età compresa tra 29 e 46 anni. L’anzianità lavorativa oscilla tra 2 e 31 anni. In tutti i casi, gli attacchi epilettici sono avvenuti dopo esposizione a una miscela di solventi. Sulla base dell’analisi dei rispettivi luoghi di lavoro, si è concluso che i lavoratori erano stati esposti quotidianamente e direttamente a SO. In sei casi vi sono state crisi epilettiche generalizzate, un paziente presentava status epilecticus. L’insorgenza delle crisi si è verificata da uno a nove anni dall’inizio dell’esposizione a SO.

Conclusioni:: Questi casi suggeriscono una possibile relazione causale tra esposizione a SO e insorgenza dell’epilessia.

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