A possible association between exposure to n-hexane and parkinsonism

Recently, some case-control studies and case reports have shown an associat ion between solvent exposure and parkinsonisms. We present a 55-year-old ma le parkinsonian patient with chronic exposure to n-hexane for 17 years. The results of neurophysiological (electromyography, evoked potentials), neuro radiological (MRI) and neuropsychological tests performed on the patient su ggest a role of this solvent at the level of the central nervous system. Bi ological susceptibility to neurotoxic compounds is discussed briefly.