Nitrous Oxide Abuse
Conditions
Keywords
Nitrous Oxide, Neurology, Thrombosis, Biomarkers, Metabolis
Brief summary
There is a toxicity linked to the chronic use of nitrous oxide, leading to neurological disorders such as combined sclerosis of the spinal cord. One thus frequently observes patients presenting disorders of walking or paresthesias, of more or less resolving evolution being able to go until the need for using a wheelchair and more recently cases of thrombosis were reported Serum or urine N2O assays are rarely performed routinely, because they do not allow to ensure a real exposure due to the very short half-life of this gas in the body. Thus, other biological monitoring markers are mentioned in the literature, such as vitamin B12 or homocysteine. Unfortunately, there are still no recommendations for biological monitoring of nitrous oxide consumption. Moreover, underlying mechanisms leading to clinical outcomes remains misunderstood.
Interventions
OTHERblood collection
Biological analyses in the framework of care with conservation of blood samples
Sponsors
University Hospital, Lille
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
14 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* A current or former recreational nitrous oxide user defined * With associated clinical signs (group 1) * Without associated clinical signs (group 2) * With or without clinico-biological sequelae associated with use * Consenting to the conduct of the study * Socially insured
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women * Never used nitrous oxide or stopped using it more than 6 months ago * Lack of social security coverage * Not willing to participate in the entire study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blood markers related to nitrous oxide consumption | through study completion an average of 1 year | Biomarkers of cobalamin metabolism, methionine cycle and oxidative stress |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blood markers related to nitrous oxide clinical outcomes. | Baseline, at 4 weeks, at 3 months and at 6 months | Biomarkers of cobalamin metabolism, methionine cycle and oxidative stress and biological markers of neurological damage. |
| Estimated and self-reported nitrous oxide consumption | Baseline, at 4 weeks,and/or at 3 months and at 6 months | — |
| The severity of the clinical signs related to nitrous oxide consumption. | Baseline, at 4 weeks,and/or at 3 months and at 6 months | The severity of the signs noted during the interrogation and consultation of the patients by filling out a pre-established form listing the neurological signs (gait disorders evaluated by the PND score, presence of paresthesia and associated clinical signs (thrombotic and psychiatric events) |
Countries
France
Contacts
CONTACTGuillaume Grzych, MD
Outcome results
None listed