Multipe Sclerosis - Pathology
Organic Solvents -
updated: 02 November 2009
Organic solvents and multiple sclerosis: a synthesis of the current evidence
Epidemiology. 1996 Jul;7(4):429-33
Landtblom AM, Flodin U, Söderfeldt B, Wolfson C, Axelson O.
To evaluate the possible relation between exposure to organic solvents and the development of multiple sclerosis, we carried out a best-evidence synthesis of the available information. We found 13 studies with varying methodology that included information on solvent exposure. In 10 of the studies, there were indications of an increased risk of multiple sclerosis in relation to solvent exposure. We made three selections of studies for both pooled analyses and meta-analyses. The relative risk point estimates that we obtained varied from 1.7 to 2.6. Our evaluation is consistent with the hypothesis that organic solvents may be a cause of multiple sclerosis.
Publication Types:
Online - Abstract
Organic solvents and the risk of multiple sclerosis
Epidemiology. 2002 Nov;13(6):718-
Riise T, Moen BE, Kyvik KR.
BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies suggest that environmental factors may be part of the yet unknown causation of multiple sclerosis (MS). Several case-control studies have shown a history of elevated exposure to organic solvents among cases. METHODS: Three cohorts of 11,542 painters, 36,899 construction workers and 9,314 food-processing workers were identified by the 1970 census in Norway. The cohorts were followed until the end of 1986 for registration of disability pensions. RESULTS: A total of nine painters, 12 construction workers and six food workers had received a disability pension because of MS. The relative risk for painters compared with workers not exposed to organic solvents was 2.0 (95% confidence inter-val = 0.9-4.5) for MS. CONCLUSIONS: These results are compatible with the hypothesis of organic solvents being a possible risk factor for MS.
Publication Types:
Online - Abstract
The risk for multiple sclerosis in female nurse anaesthetists: a register based study
Occup Environ Med. 2006 Jun;63(6):387-9.
Landtblom AM, Tondel M, Hjalmarsson P, Flodin U, Axelson O.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that exposure to organic solvents, including volatile anaesthetic agents, may be a risk factor for multiple sclerosis (MS), possibly in combination with genetic and other environmental factors. AIMS: To further investigate the role of volatile anaesthetic agents having similar acute toxic effects to other organic solvents. METHODS: Female nurse anaesthetists, other female nurses, and female teachers from middle and upper compulsory school levels were identified and retrieved from the 1985 census, Statistics Sweden. By means of the unique personal identity number in Sweden, these individuals were linked with the disability pension registers at The National Social Insurance Board and also with data on hospital care 1985-2000 at The National Board of Health and Welfare. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence rate ratio of MS was found to be increased in female nurse anaesthetists in relation to other nurses (statistically not significant) and teachers (statistically significant), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings give some support to previous findings of an increased risk for MS in nurse anaesthetists. This is interesting in the context of previous observations of organic solvents in general as a potential risk factor in MS.
Publication Types:
Online - Article
Multiple sclerosis in nurse anaesthetists
Occup Environ Med. 2003 Jan;60(1):66-8.
Flodin U, Landtblom AM, Axelson O
BACKGROUND: Volatile anaesthetics are chemically related to organic solvents used in industry. Exposure to industrial solvents may increase the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS). AIM: To examine the risk among nurse anaesthetists of contracting MS. METHODS: Nurses with MS were identified by an appeal in the monthly magazine of the Swedish Nurse Union and a magazine of the Neurological Patients Association in Sweden. Ninety nurses with MS responded and contacted our clinic. They were given a questionnaire, which was filled in by 85 subjects; 13 of these were nurse anaesthetists. The questionnaire requested information about work tasks, exposure, diagnosis, symptoms, and year. The number of active nurse anaesthetists was estimated based on information from the National Board of Health and Welfare and The Nurse Union. Incidence data for women in the region of Gothenburg and Denmark were used as the reference to estimate the risk by calculation of the standardised incidence ratio (SIR). RESULTS: Eleven of the 13 nurse anaesthetists were exposed to anaesthetic gases before onset of MS. Mean duration of exposure before diagnosis was 14.4 years (range 4-27 years). Ten cases were diagnosed in the study period 1980-99, resulting in significantly increased SIRs of 2.9 and 2.8 with the Gothenburg and the Danish reference data, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although based on crude data and a somewhat approximate analysis, this study provides preliminary evidence for an excess risk of MS in nurse anaesthetists. The risk may be even greater than observed, as the case ascertainment might have been incomplete because of the crude method applied. Further studies in this respect are clearly required to more definitely assess the risk.
Publication Types:
Online - Article
Publication Types:
|
