METHODS: A 48-year-old man was seen for the sudden occurrence of an unsteady gait with dizziness. His only medical history was a chronic and treated HIV infection without any complications. Clinical examination revealed a cerebellar syndrome associated with impairment of short-term memory. Biological and radiological workups were normal. After several days, the patient recalled ethyl chloride inhalation. He fully recovered after being discharged from hospital.
CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should recognise the clinical features and neurological manifestations of ethyl chloride intoxication due to the potential fatal cardiovascular complications of this intoxication.
方法:发现一名48岁男子突然出现不稳定步态并伴有头晕。他唯一的病史是慢性HIV感染,没有任何并发症。临床检查显示小脑综合征与短期记忆障碍有关。生物和放射学检查正常。几天后,患者回忆吸入氯乙烷。他出院后完全康复。
结论:临床医生应认识到氯乙烷中毒的临床特征和神经系统表现,因为氯乙烷中毒可能导致致命的心血管并发症。