J Neurol Sci-Brain dysfunction in multiple chemical sensitivity.

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Brain dysfunction in multiple chemical sensitivity.

http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/19801154? ordinalpos= 1 & itool=Email.

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J Neurol Sci. 2009 Oct 2. [Epub ahead of print]

Orriols R, Costa R, Cuberas G, Jacas C, Castell J, Sunyer J.

Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d' Hebron, Barcelona,

Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Spain.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic acquired disorder of

unknown pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether MCS

patients present brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

and psychometric scale changes after a chemical challenge. This procedure

was performed with chemical products at non-toxic concentrations in 8

patients diagnosed with MCS and in their healthy controls. In comparison to

controls, cases presented basal brain SPECT hypoperfusion in small cortical

areas of the right parietal and both temporal and fronto-orbital lobes.

After chemical challenge, cases showed hypoperfusion in the olfactory, right

and left hippocampus, right parahippocampus, right amygdala, right thalamus,

right and left Rolandic and right temporal cortex regions(p</= 0.01). By

contrast, controls showed hyperperfusion in the cingulus, right

parahippocampus, left thalamus and some cortex regions (p</=0.01). The

clustered deactivation pattern in cases was stronger than in controls

(p=0.012) and the clustered activation pattern in controls was higher than

in cases (p=0.012). In comparison to controls, cases presented poorer

quality of life and neurocognitive function at baseline, and neurocognitive

worsening after chemical exposure. Chemical exposure caused neurocognitive

impairment, and SPECT brain dysfunction particularly in odor-processing

areas, thereby suggesting a neurogenic origin of MCS.