Abstract
Neurological disease caused by toxins is widespread but under-recognised. Despite increasing public interest and a growing number of novel potential neurotoxins, diagnosis of neurotoxic disease is often delayed or missed, resulting in poorer patient outcomes. This article discusses neurotoxic syndromes using a systems-based approach, focusing on environmental and occupational agents. We do not discuss recreational drugs, pharmaceutical agents or developmental neurotoxins in detail. We aim to provide neurologists with a working understanding of the scenarios in which a clinical presentation may be due to a neurotoxin and how to approach confirmation of the diagnosis.
Reference43 articles.
1. Neurotoxicology: what the neurologist needs to know;Harris;J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry,2004
2. Pseudoneurotoxic disease;Schaumburg;Neurology,2005
3. Levels of lead in breast milk and their relation to maternal blood and bone lead levels at one month postpartum;Ettinger;Environ Health Perspect,2004
4. Imaging Patterns of Toxic and Metabolic Brain Disorders
5. Blain PG , Harris JB . Medical Neurotoxicology: Occupational and Environmental Causes of Neurological Dysfunction. New York: Oxford University Press London, 1999.