NEUROSPECT FINDINGS IN PATIENTS EXPOSED TO NEUROTOXIC CHEMICALS

Exposures to neurotoxic chemicals such as pesticides, glues, solvents, etc. are known to induce neurologic and psychiatric symptomatology. W e report on 41 patients - 16 young patients (6 males, 10 females, age 34 +/- 8 yrs.) and 25 elderly patients (9 males, 16 females, age 55 +/ - 7 yrs). Fifteen of them were exposed to pesticides, and 29 to solven ts. They were studied with quantitative and qualitative analysis of re gional cerebral bood flow (rCBF), performed with 30 mCi of Xe-133 by i nhalation, followed by 30 mCi of Tc-HMPAO given intravenously. Imaging was performed with a brain dedicated system, distribution of rCBF was assessed with automatic ROI definition, and HMPAO was normalized to m aximal pixel activity in the brain. Results of Xe rCBF are expressed a s mean and S.D. in ml/min/100g, and HMPAO as mean and S.D. uptake per ROI, and compared with age-matched controls - 10 young and 20 elderly individuals. [GRAPHICS] We conclude that patients exposed to chemicals present with diminished CBF, worse in the right hemisphere, with rand om presentation of areas of hypoperfusion, more prevalent in the dorsa l frontal and parietal lobes. These findings are significantly differe nt from observations in patients with chronic fatigue and depression, suggesting primary cortical effect, possibly due to a vasculitis proce ss.