CHRONIC PAINTERS SYNDROME - CHRONIC TOXIC ENCEPHALOPATHY IN HOUSE PAINTERS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (3) , 149-156
Abstract
House painters [70] were examined after organic solvent intoxication or dementia was suspected. In 50 cases no competitive etiological factors to the cerebral symptoms other than exposure to organic solvents could be disclosed. In these, neuropsychological examination showed signs of intellectual impairment in 39 patients and neuroradiological examination by PEG [pneumoencephalograph] or CT [computed tomography] demonstrated the presence of cerebral atrophy in 31 patients; 38 patients studied with CT were compared to an age-matched control group regarding maximum sulcus width and a highly significant difference was found. Long-term exposure to turpentine substitute, often through a period with acute intoxication symptoms, gradually may lead to the development of a chronic brain syndrome chronic painters'' syndrome.