http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19801154?ordinalpos=1&itool=Email.EmailReport.Pubmed_ReportSelector.Pubmed_RVDocSum
J Neurol Sci. 2009 Oct 2. [Epub ahead of print]
Orriols R, Costa R, Cuberas G, Jacas C, Castell J, Sunyer J.
Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d' Hebron, Barcelona,
Catalonia, Spain; CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Spain.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic acquired disorder of
unknown pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether MCS
patients present brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)
and psychometric scale changes after a chemical challenge. This procedure
was performed with chemical products at non-toxic concentrations in 8
patients diagnosed with MCS and in their healthy controls. In comparison to
controls, cases presented basal brain SPECT hypoperfusion in small cortical
areas of the right parietal and both temporal and fronto-orbital lobes.
After chemical challenge, cases showed hypoperfusion in the olfactory, right
and left hippocampus, right parahippocampus, right amygdala, right thalamus,
right and left Rolandic and right temporal cortex regions(p</=0.01). By
contrast, controls showed hyperperfusion in the cingulus, right
parahippocampus, left thalamus and some cortex regions (p</=0.01). The
clustered deactivation pattern in cases was stronger than in controls
(p=0.012) and the clustered activation pattern in controls was higher than
in cases (p=0.012). In comparison to controls, cases presented poorer
quality of life and neurocognitive function at baseline, and neurocognitive
worsening after chemical exposure. Chemical exposure caused neurocognitive
impairment, and SPECT brain dysfunction particularly in odor-processing
areas, thereby suggesting a neurogenic origin of MCS.
