Abstract
Objectives
To investigate the long-term neurotoxic effects in a patient with acute dimethylamine
borane (DMAB) intoxication.
Patients
A 38-year-old man, working in a semiconductor factory, with acute DMAB intoxication
presented with confusion, and drowsiness, followed by cognitive impairments and motor-predominant
axonal polyneuropathy.
Investigations
We performed serial neurobehavioral assessments and functional neuroimaging studies,
including brain 99mTc-TRODAT single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and brain positron emission
tomography (PET) scan to monitor the long-term central nervous system (CNS) effects
of DMAB intoxication.
Results
Neurobehavioral tests revealed a persistent impairment in episodic memory of visual
retention semantic category retrieval and working memory of digit span (backward).
Brain 99mTc-TRODAT SPECT scan showed a lower radioactivity uptake in the left striatum and
F-18 FDG PET scan revealed a relatively decreased cerebral metabolism at the anterior
cingulate gyrus and both frontal regions. Follow-up neurobehavioral tests showed that
the cognitive improvements were mainly documented in intelligence, attention function,
conceptual shift, perceptual motor speed, verbal learning and working memory but were
limited in visual memory and executive functions.
Conclusion
Patients with acute DMAB intoxication may have a long-lasting CNS toxicity on the
cognitive dysfunction, parkinsonism, and an impaired metabolic activity of the brain.
Clinical improvements may sustain during the long-term follow-up period.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 28, 2012
Accepted:
May 4,
2012
Received in revised form:
April 26,
2012
Received:
January 30,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
