Nitrous oxide intake and neurotoxicity

Bastien Tossens (1)*, Romane Ponthot (1)*, Sofia Maldonado Slootjes (2), Damien Gruson (1), Vincent Haufroid (1), Joseph P. Dewulf (1), Kevin-Alexandre Delongie (1), Guillaume Grzych (3), Lidvine Boland (1) Published in the journal : December 2023 Category : Biochimie médicale

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an anesthetic gas, also consumed for its euphoric properties, which can cause serious health problems. In this report, we present the case of a 23-year-old man who has been regularly consuming this gas since 2018, with a progressive intensification of his consumption, leading to subacute myeloneuropathy. Given a similar context, a previous diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2021 is questioned. We review the laboratory tests to be performed in the management of a patient presenting motor and sensory neuropathies associated with N2O consumption, namely homocysteine and methylmalonic acid (MMA) assays.

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