Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Case Report

A case of carbon monoxide intoxication presenting subacute dementia as the initial symptom

Mito Shiote, M. D. , Yukiko Kido, M. D. , Takeshi Hayashi, M. D. , Etsuro Matubara, M. D. , Yasuhiro Manabe, M. D. , Mikio Shoji, M. D. and Koji Abe, M. D.

Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Okayama University

We reported a 67-year-old woman who had developed abnormal behavior and dementia from January 21, 2001 and deteriorated to akinetic mutism on February 15. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed high intensity in bilateral globus pallidus and a rapid spreading of diffuse high intensity in bilateral deep white matter. Later on, we got an important information that she had used a little coal stove three times about three weeks before presenting the initial symptom. She was diagnosed as carbon monoxide intoxication and treated with hyperbaric oxygen from March 1. A remarkable improvement on dementia and motor disability was observed.

We conclude that this case is the first reported example of a case of intermittent carbon monoxide intoxication presenting subacute dementia as an initial symptom.

(CLINICA NEUROL, 42: 212|215, 2002)
key words: carbon monoxide intoxication, dementia, hyperbaric oxygen therapy

(Received: 21-Sep-01)