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Case Reports
. 2023 Feb 22;15(2):e35341.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.35341. eCollection 2023 Feb.

Subacute Combined Degeneration of the Spinal Cord Secondary to Nitrous Oxide Abuse

Aamir Khan  1 , Ayesha Zafar  2 , Hira Hamid  3 , Bilal Ahmad  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Subacute Combined Degeneration of the Spinal Cord Secondary to Nitrous Oxide Abuse

Aamir Khan et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Here, we report a case of subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord in the setting of nitrous oxide poisoning seen at the Medical Ward, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Our patient was a 28-year-old lady who presented with impaired sensations in the lower limbs and difficulty walking for approximately one and a half months. Her clinical symptoms did not match common neurological conditions. Upon detailed history, she revealed that she had been frequently using nitrous oxide recreationally for several years. Although her baseline investigations were normal, her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine showed bilateral symmetrical T2 hyperintense signal changes in the dorsal columns extending from C2 to C6 spinal segment. Based on history, clinical findings, and MRI of the cervical spine, the diagnosis of SCD of the spinal cord was made, and her symptoms fully resolved with treatment.

Keywords: methionine; mri; nitrous oxide; scid; vitamin b12.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. (A, B) MRI of the cervical spine demonstrating bilateral symmetrical T2 high signal changes in the dorsal columns extending from C2 to C6 level.
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