NCT05469321

Neurological Impairment in a Young Population Exposed to Recreational Nitrous Oxide

A Retrospective Study of Neurological Impairment in a Young Population Exposed to Recreational Nitrous Oxide

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 15 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Neuropathy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	None, pure observationnal study	None, pure observational study following the usual management of the patients

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-08-22
• Primary completion: 2024-12-01
• Completion: 2024-12-01
• First posted: 2022-07-21
• Last updated: 2024-01-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: France