Neurological Impairment in a Young Population Exposed to Recreational Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Neuropathy

Treatments: Other: None, pure observationnal study

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05469321

Local/2022/II-03

Details and patient eligibility

About

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a colorless, flammable, analgesic gas used in surgery and dentistry. The consumption of N2O has increased among young French people aiming to relax because of its short-lived neuropsychological effect (euphoria, depersonalization, analgesia) and its wide availability on the market.

It can be responsible in case of prolonged use and overdose of a vitamin B12 deficiency with possible neuropsychiatric complications: sensitivomotor neuropathy, myelopathy, behavioral and cognitive disorders of acute or sub-acute installation.

N2O inhibits the activitý of methionine synthase, decreases the activitý of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase leading to vitamin B12 deficiency but in addition to the interference with vitamin B12 metabolism there seems to be a direct toxicity of N20.

Myelin alteration was the typical electromyography finding but new axonal profiles were also described. Since myelopathy affects both the posterior and lateral cords, combined spinal cord sclerosis is the most common location of injury associated with N2O intoxication.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 15+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

patients presenting to the CHU of Nîmes with an acute or sub-acute neurological picture after having consumed N2O

Trial design

20 participants in 1 patient group

Patients

Description:

patients presenting to the CHU of Nîmes for an acute or subacute neurological picture after having consumed N2O.

Treatment:

Other: None, pure observationnal study