Duc Nguyen Dang , Anh Lam Nguyen Hong , Bach Nguyen Dang
{"title":"Recreational nitrous oxide abuse and myeloneuropathy among Vietnamese youth: A descriptive study of 35 cases","authors":"Duc Nguyen Dang , Anh Lam Nguyen Hong , Bach Nguyen Dang","doi":"10.1016/j.ensci.2025.100588","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Nitrous oxide (N₂O) misuse has become increasingly prevalent among young adults in Vietnam, with growing reports of neurological complications.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a retrospective analysis of 35 patients with N₂O-induced neurotoxicity admitted to Bach Mai Hospital from 2022 to 2024.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Patients were mostly female (65.7 %), median age 22, with students and office workers being the predominant occupations. Neurological symptoms included paresthesias (88.6 %), weakness (82.9 %), and unsteadiness (77.1 %). MRI revealed dorsal column lesions in 60 %. All patients received B12 therapy. Full recovery occurred in 91.4 %; 8.6 % had mild persistent symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>N₂O misuse is an emerging threat in Vietnam. Despite favorable treatment outcomes, prevention through public education and policy is essential. Our findings contribute important local data to support future regulation and health promotion efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37974,"journal":{"name":"eNeurologicalSci","volume":"41 ","pages":"Article 100588"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"eNeurologicalSci","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405650225000425","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Neuroscience","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Nitrous oxide (N₂O) misuse has become increasingly prevalent among young adults in Vietnam, with growing reports of neurological complications.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 35 patients with N₂O-induced neurotoxicity admitted to Bach Mai Hospital from 2022 to 2024.
Results
Patients were mostly female (65.7 %), median age 22, with students and office workers being the predominant occupations. Neurological symptoms included paresthesias (88.6 %), weakness (82.9 %), and unsteadiness (77.1 %). MRI revealed dorsal column lesions in 60 %. All patients received B12 therapy. Full recovery occurred in 91.4 %; 8.6 % had mild persistent symptoms.
Conclusions
N₂O misuse is an emerging threat in Vietnam. Despite favorable treatment outcomes, prevention through public education and policy is essential. Our findings contribute important local data to support future regulation and health promotion efforts.
期刊介绍:
eNeurologicalSci provides a medium for the prompt publication of original articles in neurology and neuroscience from around the world. eNS places special emphasis on articles that: 1) provide guidance to clinicians around the world (Best Practices, Global Neurology); 2) report cutting-edge science related to neurology (Basic and Translational Sciences); 3) educate readers about relevant and practical clinical outcomes in neurology (Outcomes Research); and 4) summarize or editorialize the current state of the literature (Reviews, Commentaries, and Editorials). eNS accepts most types of manuscripts for consideration including original research papers, short communications, reviews, book reviews, letters to the Editor, opinions and editorials. Topics considered will be from neurology-related fields that are of interest to practicing physicians around the world. Examples include neuromuscular diseases, demyelination, atrophies, dementia, neoplasms, infections, epilepsies, disturbances of consciousness, stroke and cerebral circulation, growth and development, plasticity and intermediary metabolism. The fields covered may include neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, neuroendocrinology, neuroepidemiology, neurogenetics, neuroimmunology, neuroophthalmology, neuropathology, neuropharmacology, neurophysiology, neuropsychology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, neurooncology, neurotoxicology, restorative neurology, and tropical neurology.