بررسي نقش عوامل جنگي شيميايي در ايجاد نوروپاتي محيطي

The Role of Chemical Warfare Agents in Inducing Peripheral Neuropathy

Late complications of exposure to chemical warfare agents (CWA) are not well known and are poorly discussed. Scientific data regarding these delayed responses are needed especially when dealing with war victims. One of these complications is peripheral neuropathy. Organophosphate-pesticides and a few toxins are recognized to cause this it. The questions regarding the potential hazards of CWA are enormous and serious. In the study, one hurdered chemical warfare patients in different grades, with an average age of 37.2± 4.0, were physically examined and electrodiagnostically studied. Five patients were proved to be suffering from axonal neurophaty which was significantly different from normal population. This data show that CWA may be cause of peripheral neurophathy in chemically-injured victims. Since both OP and SM have been used against Iranian combatans during the imposed war, it is concluded that the observed neurophaty could well be due to poisoning by OP rather than SM. To confirm the results, more controlled experimental studies are required.