Nitrous oxide‐related neurological disorders: Clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findings

Abstract Background Recreational N2O abuse is an important etiology of neurological impairment in young patients, which may easily be ignored clinically. Few current studies have investigated the characteristics or the effects experienced by its users. We aimed to explore any correlation between the...

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Main Authors: Jiwei Jiang, Xiuli Shang, Xiaoting Wang, Hanze Chen, Wenyi Li, Yanli Wang, Jun Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-12-01
Series:Brain and Behavior
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2402
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author Jiwei Jiang
Xiuli Shang
Xiaoting Wang
Hanze Chen
Wenyi Li
Yanli Wang
Jun Xu
author_facet Jiwei Jiang
Xiuli Shang
Xiaoting Wang
Hanze Chen
Wenyi Li
Yanli Wang
Jun Xu
author_sort Jiwei Jiang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Recreational N2O abuse is an important etiology of neurological impairment in young patients, which may easily be ignored clinically. Few current studies have investigated the characteristics or the effects experienced by its users. We aimed to explore any correlation between the clinical severity and biomarkers and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities, identify independent factors associated with spinal MRI abnormalities, and ascertain factors affecting depression/anxiety in patients with N2O‐related neurological disorders. Methods Patients with N2O‐related neurological disorders were enrolled retrospectively between February 2017 and July 2020. Their demographic, clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, electrophysiological, and neuropsychological findings were analyzed. Correlation analyses were conducted using Spearman's or Pearson's correlation and linear regression analysis. Independent factors associated with spinal MRI abnormalities were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The principal clinical manifestations of N2O‐related neurological disorders (n = 63; 38 men, 25 women; mean age ± SD: 22.60 ± 4.46 years) were sensory disturbance, followed by gait disturbance and pyramidal tract damage. A significant negative correlation existed between serum vitamin B12 levels and clinical severity (r = −0.309, p = .014), which disappeared after linear regression. An interval of less than 6 months between initial N2O abuse and hospitalization was independently associated with spinal MRI abnormalities (39.47% vs. 72.00%, respectively; χ2 = 6.40, p = .01). Thirty‐eight (60.32%) and 40 (63.49%) patients experienced anxiety and depression, respectively. Moreover, the higher the clinical scores/serum homocysteine levels, the greater the severity of anxiety/depression (r = 0.442, p < .01; r = 0.346, p < .01; r = 0.477, p < .01; r = 0.324, p < .01). Conclusions The significant inverse correlation between initial vitamin B12 levels and clinical severity could aid prognosis prediction in patients with N2O‐related neurological disorders. Spinal MRI abnormalities were not related to clinical severity but depended on the time interval between initial N2O abuse and hospitalization. Anxiety and depression were common comorbidity in these patients, and their severity increased with the intensity of clinical impairment and/or serum homocysteine levels.
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spelling doaj.art-19c092a683594b11963e7f3edf06b4892023-08-04T10:55:54ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792021-12-011112n/an/a10.1002/brb3.2402Nitrous oxide‐related neurological disorders: Clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findingsJiwei Jiang0Xiuli Shang1Xiaoting Wang2Hanze Chen3Wenyi Li4Yanli Wang5Jun Xu6Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Capital Medical University Beijing ChinaDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital China Medical University Shenyang ChinaDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital China Medical University Shenyang ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine Zhejiang University Hangzhou ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Capital Medical University Beijing ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Capital Medical University Beijing ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Capital Medical University Beijing ChinaAbstract Background Recreational N2O abuse is an important etiology of neurological impairment in young patients, which may easily be ignored clinically. Few current studies have investigated the characteristics or the effects experienced by its users. We aimed to explore any correlation between the clinical severity and biomarkers and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities, identify independent factors associated with spinal MRI abnormalities, and ascertain factors affecting depression/anxiety in patients with N2O‐related neurological disorders. Methods Patients with N2O‐related neurological disorders were enrolled retrospectively between February 2017 and July 2020. Their demographic, clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, electrophysiological, and neuropsychological findings were analyzed. Correlation analyses were conducted using Spearman's or Pearson's correlation and linear regression analysis. Independent factors associated with spinal MRI abnormalities were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The principal clinical manifestations of N2O‐related neurological disorders (n = 63; 38 men, 25 women; mean age ± SD: 22.60 ± 4.46 years) were sensory disturbance, followed by gait disturbance and pyramidal tract damage. A significant negative correlation existed between serum vitamin B12 levels and clinical severity (r = −0.309, p = .014), which disappeared after linear regression. An interval of less than 6 months between initial N2O abuse and hospitalization was independently associated with spinal MRI abnormalities (39.47% vs. 72.00%, respectively; χ2 = 6.40, p = .01). Thirty‐eight (60.32%) and 40 (63.49%) patients experienced anxiety and depression, respectively. Moreover, the higher the clinical scores/serum homocysteine levels, the greater the severity of anxiety/depression (r = 0.442, p < .01; r = 0.346, p < .01; r = 0.477, p < .01; r = 0.324, p < .01). Conclusions The significant inverse correlation between initial vitamin B12 levels and clinical severity could aid prognosis prediction in patients with N2O‐related neurological disorders. Spinal MRI abnormalities were not related to clinical severity but depended on the time interval between initial N2O abuse and hospitalization. Anxiety and depression were common comorbidity in these patients, and their severity increased with the intensity of clinical impairment and/or serum homocysteine levels.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2402homocysteinemagnetic resonance imagingnitrous oxidesubacute combined degenerationvitamin B12 deficiency
spellingShingle Jiwei Jiang
Xiuli Shang
Xiaoting Wang
Hanze Chen
Wenyi Li
Yanli Wang
Jun Xu
Nitrous oxide‐related neurological disorders: Clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findings
Brain and Behavior
homocysteine
magnetic resonance imaging
nitrous oxide
subacute combined degeneration
vitamin B12 deficiency
title Nitrous oxide‐related neurological disorders: Clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findings
title_full Nitrous oxide‐related neurological disorders: Clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findings
title_fullStr Nitrous oxide‐related neurological disorders: Clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findings
title_full_unstemmed Nitrous oxide‐related neurological disorders: Clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findings
title_short Nitrous oxide‐related neurological disorders: Clinical, laboratory, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological findings
title_sort nitrous oxide related neurological disorders clinical laboratory neuroimaging and electrophysiological findings
topic homocysteine
magnetic resonance imaging
nitrous oxide
subacute combined degeneration
vitamin B12 deficiency
url https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2402
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