Skip to main content

Nitrous oxide induced subacute combined degeneration with longitudinally extensive myelopathy with inverted V-sign on spinal MRI: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Background

Nitrous oxide (N2O), a long-standing anesthetic, is also neurotoxic by interfering with the bioavailability of vitamin B12 if abused. A few case studies have reported the neurological and psychiatric complications of N2O.

Case presentation

Here, we reported a patient of N2O induced subacute combined degeneration (SCD) with longitudinally extensive myelopathy with inverted V-sign exhibiting progressive limb paresthesia and unsteady gait.

Conclusions

This case raises the awareness of an important mechanism of neural toxicity of N2O, and clinical physicians should be well recognized this in the field of substance-related disorders.

Peer Review reports

Background

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a long-standing anesthetic, which also has neurotoxicity by interfering in the bioavailability of vitamin B12 if abused. A few case studies have reported the neurological and psychiatrical complications, even death, related to N2O abuse [1]. Among these complications, N2O-induced myelopathy has been regarded as the most common manifestation [1]. To the best of our knowledge, there are only 18 cases describing N2O-induced subacute combined degeneration (SCD); however, to date, only very rare cases with longitudinally extensive myelopathy with inverted V-sign or “rabbit ears” sign on spinal posterior column. We herein described a 20-year-old female who developed SCD with inverted V-sign on spinal column related to the abuse of N2O.

Case presentation

A 20-year-old woman presented with progressive paresthesia in her legs and hands, and unsteady gait for 15 days. She had inhaled N2O about 100–200 whipped cream chargers many times daily, for recreational purposes for at least one year. Neuropsychological test showed mild impairment of the cognition, and the Mini mental state examination (MMSE) score was 23. The deficit domains of the MMSE included orientation (minus 3 scores), attention and calculation (minus 4 scores). Neurological examination revealed distal slight weakness, decreased vibration and proprioception, bilateral hyporeflexia, sensory ataxia, positive Babinski sign and Romberg sign.

Laboratory tests revealed decreased level of folic acid (4.40 ng/ml, reference range > 5.4 ng/ml), but the others were normal, including red blood cell, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, serum vitamin B12 (800 pg/ml, reference range 211–911 pg/ml) and homocysteine (8μmmol/L, reference range 0-15 μmol/L). The antibodies of human immunodeficiency virus and neurosyphilis were negative. The results of cerebrospinal fluid test (CSF) were normal for leucocyte count (5/L, reference range 0–8/L), glucose (3.1 mmol/L, reference range 2.5–4.5 mmol/L), and protein concentration (33 mg/dl, reference range 15–45 mg/dl). The inflammatory, immune and infectious biomarkers of both CSF and serum were also unremarkable.

The cranial MRI yielded normal findings. The spinal cord MRI showed abnormal longitudinally extensive T2 weighted hyperintensities involving the posterior columns from C1 through T12, with inverted V or “rabbit ears” sign on cervical spinal MRI, but without contrast enhancement (Figs. 1 and 2). Electromyography showed multiple peripheral neurogenic damage, also with decreased nerve conduction velocity and abnormal somatosensory evoked potential. However, visual evoked potential showed normal response.

Fig. 1
figure 1

The MRI of spinal cord disclosed abnormal hyperintensities within the dorsal cervical spinal cord. On axial series, V-shaped T2 hyperintensities were again noted within the dorsal cervical spinal cord

Fig. 2
figure 2

The MRI of spinal cord showed abnormal hyperintensities within the dorsal thoracic spinal cord

Three months later, with a high dose of supplementation of intramuscular vitamin B12 injections (1 mg per day) and the cessation of N2O exposure, the symptoms of sensation and gait resolved markedly, and the cognitive function fully recovered (MMSE 30). The abnormal hyperintensities of spinal MRI also dissolved with three months’ follow up (Figs. 3 and 4). The diagnosis of N2O induced SCD was supported by clinical history, clinical manifestations, MRI findings, the distinct relationship between N2O exposure, also with the favorable prognosis by the vitamin B12 supplementation.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Follow-up cervical spinal cord of MRI revealed the resolution of the previously noted lesions of inverted V-sign within the posterior columns

Fig. 4
figure 4

Follow-up thoracic spinal cord of MRI showed significant remission of the posterior columns’ signal alterations

Discussion and conclusions

N2O, a well-known anesthetic, has a long history for its recreational use, and its consumption is on the rise rapidly [2]. Several case studies have reported neurological and psychiatric complications of N2O use [1]. To date, there are only 18 cases describing SCD caused by N2O abuse. However, the exact mechanisms of SCD induced by N2O have not been well elucidated. N2O potentially interferes with methionine synthesis by inactivating methylcobalamin [3]. Except for the deficient methylation hypothesis, some other newly discovered functions of B12 in regulating cytokines and growth factors have also been raised [4].

The strengths of our case were listed as follows. Firstly, our case revealed symmetric abnormal signal in the dorsal columns of the cervical and thoracic cord, especially with inverted V-sign on cervical spinal. To the best of our knowledge, only one case has been previously described of such longitudinally extensive myelopathy induced by N2O [5]. Our case also indicated symmetric, reversible changes in the posterior columns correlating well with patients’ clinical symptoms after vitamin B12 supplementation. Secondly, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about the coexistence of mild cognitive impairment in patient with SCD by N2O abuse, in spite that the assessment of cognition was only measured by the MMSE. The underlying mechanism of cognitive decline may attributed to the neural toxicity of N2O or the metabolic disturbances from the lower level of metabolites such as folic acid and vitamin B12 or hyperhomocysteinemia [6]. Thirdly, abuse of N2O is common, but generally underestimated especially in developing countries. To date, this is also the first case reported in China (mainland).

In summary, the abuse of N2O has some potentially serious outcomes, especially in young patients presenting with myelopathic symptoms of unclear aetiology [7]. N2O induced SCD may be a very rare manifestation associated with N2O abuse. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial because it represents a treatable and potentially reversible cause of myelopathy with vitamin B12 [2]. Our case also raises awareness of an important complication of neural toxicity of N2O.

Abbreviations

CSF:

Cerebrospinal fluid test

MMSE:

Mini mental state examination

N2O:

Nitrous oxide

SCD:

Subacute combined degeneration

References

  1. Garakani A, Jaffe RJ, Savla D, Welch AK, Protin CA, Bryson EO, et al. Neurologic, psychiatric, and other medical manifestations of nitrous oxide abuse: a systematic review of the case literature. Am J Addict. 2016;25:358–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Mancke F, Kaklauskaite G, Kollmer J, Weiler M. Psychiatric comorbidities in a young man with subacute myelopathy induced by abusive nitrous oxide consumption: a case report. Subst Abuse Rehabil. 2016;7:155–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Garakani A, Welch AK, Jaffe RJ, Protin CA, McDowell DM. Psychosis and low cyanocobalamin in a patient abusing nitrous oxide and cannabis. Psychosomatics. 2014;55:715–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hathout L, El-Saden S. Nitrous oxide-induced B(1)(2) deficiency myelopathy: perspectives on the clinical biochemistry of vitamin B12. J Neurol Sci. 2011;301:1–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ernst LD, Brock K, Barraza LH, Davis A, Nirenberg MJ. Longitudinally extensive nitrous oxide Myelopathy with novel radiographic features. JAMA Neurol. 2015;72:1370–1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Smith AD, Refsum H. Homocysteine, B Vitamins, and cognitive impairment. Annu Rev Nutr. 2016;36:211–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sotirchos ES, Saidha S, Becker D. Neurological picture. Nitrous oxide-induced myelopathy with inverted V-sign on spinal MRI. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2012;83:915–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Not applicable

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81301016) and the Beijing Municipal Administration of Hospitals’ Youth Programme (QML20150303).

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

JLY examined, evaluated the patient and drafted the manuscript. SKW performed and interpreted the MRI studies. TJ and WLH participated in the design of the case-report and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Tao Jiang or Wen Li Hu.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University.

Consent for publication

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this Case Report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yuan, J.L., Wang, S.K., Jiang, T. et al. Nitrous oxide induced subacute combined degeneration with longitudinally extensive myelopathy with inverted V-sign on spinal MRI: a case report and literature review. BMC Neurol 17, 222 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-017-0990-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-017-0990-3

Keywords