[The carpal tunnel syndrome in the oil toxic syndrome]. / El síndrome del túnel del carpo en el síndrome del aceite tóxico.

BACKGROUND: The toxic oil syndrome (TOS) is an autoimmune disease caused by the ingestion of aniline-denatured rapeseed oil. The carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is an entrapment neuropathy due to the median nerve entrapment, which is associated with both occupational activities and autoimmune diseases. The objective of this work was to know the frequency and characteristics of CTS in TOS patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 1977 and July 2000, 744 TOS patients were evaluated. The inclusion criteria were: the clinical records for patients diagnosed between May 1981 and November 1997; and for patients diagnosed between December 1997 and July 2000, symptoms with the classical or likely pattern according to the Katz's hand diagram and one of the following findings: a) abnormal electromyogram, and b) hypalgesia in the median nerve territory and positive Tinel and/or Phalen signs. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients (63 women, 90%) were diagnosed; 48 of them had been diagnosed before 1997 and 22 subsequently. The mean age of patients was 47.6 (20-78) years. In 36 patients (51.4%), a bilateral CTS was present. Fifty-six patients (81.4%) had a diagnostic EMG, and 31 (44.2%) were obese, 13 (18.6%) diabetic, and 4 (6%) had hypothyroidism. Most of these cases (48; 68.6%) were housewives. CONCLUSIONS: TOS patients have a high frequency of CTS; therefore, this condition must be suspected in patients with associated obesity and diabetes mellitus.

[Clinical and analytical findings in patients with toxic oil syndrome. Study of a cohort of 758 patients]. / Hallazgos clínicos y analíticos en pacientes afectados por el síndrome del aceite tóxico. Estudio de una cohorte de 758 pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: To report the symptoms and analytical findings observed in the collective of patients affected with the toxic oil syndrome (TOS) 18 years after the poisoning. METHODS: At the Centro de Investigación sobre el Síndrome del Aceite Tóxico (CISAT) we followed the clinical and analytical course of 758 patients affected with the TOS since December 1997 up to May 1999. Patients were evaluated by means of a previously standardized questionnaire in which a clinical review and a battery of complementary tests (thyroid hormones, spirometry with diffusion test and arterial gasometry) were included. One hundred and sixty-two patients underwent also echocardiogram because of presumptive pulmonary hypertension and/or heart disease. RESULTS: Out of the 758 patients, 516 were females and 242 males (M:F ratio 2:1), with ages ranging from 17 to 84 years (mean age 47 years). One of the most remarkable findings was the increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors: arterial hypertension (34%), dyslipemias (44%), overweight (40%), obesity (27%), carbohydrate intolerance (9%) and diabetes mellitus (9.4%). The most common reported symptoms were: cramps (78%), arthralgias (78%), and paresthesias (70%). Only 2.8% of patients reported to be asymptomatic. The analytical results most commonly changed were: changes in lipidic and carbohydrate metabolism (already reported), overt or subclinical hypothyroidism (6.6%) and respiratory changes in patients with no previous pulmonary disease: changes in spirometry (6%), diffusion test (8%) and hypoxemia (18%). Echocardiographic findings suggestive of PHT were obtained in 3.1% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Although TOS occurred in 1981, this syndrome still has a relevant morbidity in a portion of the spanish population. To remark the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors with changes in lipidic and carbohydrate metabolism and subclinical hypothyroidism observed in our series. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the actual dimension of this poisoning.

Hallazgos clínicos y analíticos en pacientes afectados por el síndrome del aceite tóxico. estudio de una cohorte de 758 pacientes / Clinical and analytical findings in patients affected with the toxic oil syndrome. Study of a cohort of 758 patients

Objetivo. Describir la sintomatología y los hallazgos analíticos que el colectivo de pacientes afectados por el síndrome del aceite tóxico (SAT) presenta 18 años después de haber sufrido la intoxicación. Métodos. En el centro de Investigación sobre el Síndrome del Aceite Tóxico (CISAT) hemos seguido la evolución clínica y analítica de 758 pacientes afectados por el SAT desde diciembre de 1997 hasta mayo de 1999. Los pacientes fueron evaluados mediante un cuestionario previamente estandarizado en el que se incluía una revisión clínica y una batería de exploraciones complementarias, entre las que se incluían hormonas tiroideas, espirometría con prueba de difusión y gasometría arterial. A 162 pacientes se les realizó además ecocardiograma por presentar sospecha de hipertensión pulmonar y/o cardiopatía. Resultados. De los 758 pacientes, 516 eran mujeres y 242 varones (M:V-2:1), con edades comprendidas entre 17 y 84 años (edad media de 47 ñ años). Uno de los hallazgos más llamativos fue la elevada prevalencia de los factores de riesgo cardiovasculares: hipertensión arterial (34 por ciento), dislipidemias (44 por ciento), sobrepeso (40 por ciento), obesidad (27 por ciento), intolerancia hidrocarbonada (9 por ciento) y diabetes mellitus (9,4 por ciento). Los síntomas más frecuentemente referidos fueron: calambres (78 por ciento), artralgias (78 por ciento) y parestesias (70 por ciento). Únicamente referían estar asintomáticos el 2,8 por ciento de los afectados. Los resultados analíticos alterados con más frecuencia fueron: alteraciones del metabolismo lipídico e hidrocarbonado (ya referidos), hipotiroidismo franco o subclínico (6,6 por ciento) y alteraciones respiratorias en pacientes sin patología pulmonar previa conocida: alteraciones en la espirometría (6 por ciento), en la prueba de difusión (8 por ciento) e hipoxemia (18 por ciento). Se obtuvieron datos ecocardiográficos sugestivos de hipertensión pulmonar (HTP) en el 3,1 por ciento de los casos. Conclusiones. A pesar de que el SAT ocurrió en 1981, este síndrome sigue teniendo una importante morbilidad en parte de la población española, destacando la elevada prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular con alteraciones del metabolismo lipídico e hidrocarbonado e hipotiroidismo subclínico encontrados en nuestra serie. Son necesarios estudios ulteriores para evaluar la dimensión definitiva de esta epidemia (AU)