Peripheral neuropathy and visual evoked potential changes in workers exposed to n-hexane

The aim of this study was to evaluate patients who had peripheral neuropathy and changes to their visual evoked responses resulting from exposure to n-hexane. Eighteen patients with acute or subacute neuropathy, who were working in a shoe factory, were investigated clinically and electrophysiologically. These evaluations were then repeated 9 months to 12 months after cessation of exposure to n-hexane. Results of the nerve conduction studies predominantly showed a decrease in motor and sensory conduction velocities. Between 9 and 12 months after cessation of exposure to n-hexane, 83.3% of patients had a complete clinical recovery. The electrophysiological studies also revealed improvement to the majority of motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities. The results of the visual evoked potential (VEP) studies were considered normal at admission, however, the P100 latencies at the 9-month to 12-month retest had improved (p < 0.05). As the abnormalities identified with clinical examination and nerve conduction studies, and the subclinical abnormalities revealed through VEP assessment, could be reversed after exposure to n-hexane had ceased, the clinical prognosis was usually good.