Clinical analysis of longstanding subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy: sequelae of clioquinol at 32 years after its ban

J Neurol Sci. 2004 Mar 15;218(1-2):85-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2003.11.007.

Abstract

One thousand and thirty-one longstanding patients with subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy (SMON; 275 males, 756 females; mean age +/- S.D., 72.9 +/- 9.6 years; age at onset 37.6 +/- 9.8 years; duration of illness 35.3 +/- 4.0 years) were examined in 2002, 32 years after banning of clioquinol. At onset, 66.7% of patients were unable to walk, and 4.7% complete blindness. At present time, about 41% of patients were still difficult to walk independently, including 15.8% of completely loss of locomotion. One point six percent of patients were in complete blindness and 5.8% had severe visual impairment. The majority (95.6 - 97.7%) of patients exhibited sensory disturbances including superficial and vibratory sensations and dysesthesia. Dysautonomia was observed as leg hypothermia in 79.8%, urinary incontinence in 60.7%, and bowel disturbance in 95.3%. As complication, high incidence was revealed with cataract (56.2%), hypertension (40.2%), vertebral disease (35.5%), and limb articular disease (31.5%). These results indicate the serious sequelae of clioquinol intoxication, SMON.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amebicides / adverse effects
  • Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Blindness / etiology
  • Clioquinol / adverse effects*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / chemically induced
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / complications*
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / epidemiology
  • Optic Nerve Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Peripheral Nerves / physiopathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / complications*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Spinal Cord / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Amebicides
  • Clioquinol