US EPA

8368 

Journal Article 

Inorganic arsenic and the nervous system 

Jenkins, RB 

1966 

Yes 

Brain
ISSN: 0006-8950
EISSN: 1460-2156 

HAPAB/67/00047 

89 

3 

479-498 

English 

5921127 

10.1093/brain/89.3.479 

http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/doi/10.1093/brain/89.3.479
Exit
 

HAPAB Arsenical neuropathy is discussed in 57 patients, the majority of whom were seen in the North Carolina Memorial Hospital between 1952 and 1964. Ages ranged from 6 months to 70 years. Some 37 patients suffered from peripherial neuropahy and 5 from encephalopathy. Only 3 patients died. Probable sources of arsenic in the adults were: attempted homocide, 11; attempted suicide, 13; accidental ingestion, 5; medicinal arsenic, 1; illegal alcohol, 6; and unknown, 10. The author indicates that adults rarely escape neuropathy if sufficient arsenic is swallowed to cause a severe gastro-intestinal illness; of the 37 patients with neuropathy, a history of preceding gastro-intestinal illness was obtained from 27. Treatment with dimercaprol ( BAL ) is effective in preventing arsenical neuropathy provided treatment is instituted within a matter of about 18 hours. Diagnoses and differential diagnosis are discussed. POISONING CASES AND THEIR TREATMENT 67/01/00, 12 1966