Veterans and Agent Orange Update 1998 (1999) / Chapter Skim
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10 Neurobehavioral Disorders
10 Neurobehavioral Disorders
Pages 466-477
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From page 466... ...
, which includes the nerve roots, the brachial and lumbar plexuses, and the peripheral nerves that pass to the extremities. The peripheral nerves are responsible for innervating the muscles and also are made up of afferent fibers that convey sensory information to the CNS.
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From page 467... ...
a' s~ cq o x a' o · - ~ a' o cq a' vO s~ o · - ~ a' o s~ a' a' c)
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From page 468... ...
In the present report, at the specific request of the Department of Veteran Affairs, the possibility of chronic peripheral neuropathy developing in Vietnam veterans as a consequence of herbicide exposure has been reconsidered. COGNITIVE AND NEUROPSYCHIATRIC EFFECTS Summary of VAO and Update 1996 In VAO, the committee concluded that the literature was insufficient to determine whether an association existed between exposure to herbicides and related compounds and chronic cognitive or neuropsychiatric disorders.
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From page 469... ...
(1991~. Vietnam veterans represent the most systematically evaluated group with chronic TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin)
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The committee emphasized the importance of cases of early-onset parkinsonism in testing the hypothesis that the disease relates to a toxic exposure, and pointed to the particular medical and scientific importance of a systematic and prospective study of Vietnam veterans for the development of early-onset parkinsonism. Update of the Scientific Literature As far as this committee is aware, no new studies relating directly to this aspect have been published.
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From page 471... ...
Synthesis There have been only a limited number of epidemiologic studies of chronic peripheral neuropathy, except for the neuropathy associated with diabetes. A recent study from Europe estimated that a chronic symmetric polyneuropathy occurs in about 8 percent of people over the age of 55 years with a severity that is sufficient to lead to symptoms of the disorder (Italian General Practitioner Study Group, 1995~.
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From page 472... ...
The peripheral nerves are vulnerable to a number of toxic substances including some of the heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and thallium; certain organic solvents such as n-hexane and methyl n-butyl ketone; and various organophosphates. A neuropathy is also a common complication of chronic alcohol abuse and, in this circumstance, may relate to either a direct toxic effect of alcohol, a concomitant nutritional deficiency, or both.
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From page 473... ...
Based on an analysis of the data from studies reviewed in VAO and Update 1996, as well as those published more recently regarding occupational, environmental, and Vietnam veteran exposure to herbicides and herbicide components, this committee agrees with the conclusion of the last committee that there is limited/suggestive evidence of an association between exposure to certain herbicides used in Vietnam and the development of an acute or subacute transient peripheral neuropathy. Acute peripheral neuropathies have been reported following acute occupational exposure to 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)
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From page 474... ...
Some of the preceding discussions of neurobehavioral outcomes include references to specific relevant papers. Little information exists on the development of neurobehavioral disorders and TCDD exposure in laboratory animals.
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Increased Risk of Disease Among Vietnam Veterans Under the Agent Orange Act of 1991, the committee is asked to determine (to the extent that available scientific data permit meaningful determinations) the increased risk of the diseases it studies among those exposed to herbicides during their service in Vietnam.
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From page 476... ...
1996. The Australian Vietnam Veterans Health Study: III.
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From page 477... ...
1978. Neurological complications of diabetes mellitus: transient ischaemic attack, stroke and periperal neuropathy.
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