Carbon Monoxide Poisoning


Major Sites of Nervous System Damage:

Central:

White matter damage ---

  • Leukocephalopathy


    Grey matter damage ----

  • Basal ganglia (causes seizure disorders, multiple-sclerosis-type disorders, speech impairments, etc.)
  • Globus pallidus
  • Caudate nucleus (causes forms of aphasia)
  • Putamen
  • Substantia nigra
  • Subthalami nuclei

  • Cerebral Cortex (effects on learning, decrements in intellectual capacity, judgment, ability to concentrate, memory, executive functioning, multi-tasking, emotion, etc.)

  • Hippocampus (effects on short- to long-term (rare) memory, limbic system)

  • Cerebellum (produces ataxia, slurring of speech)
  • Purkinje cells
  • Dentate nuclei

  • Hypothalamus (alters multi-glandular control; possibly body temperature deregulation, hypothyroidism)


    • Peripheral

  • Various nerves (peripheral neuropathy; loss / change of sensation, motor function)


    Recent Acute CO Studies:

    Raphael et al., 1989, Study

    Hopkins-Weaver, 1994, Study

    Thom et al., 1995, Study

    Gale et al., 1999, Study

    Dunham et al., 1999, Study

    Piantadosi et al., 1999, Study

    Amitai et al., 1998, Study

    ................................................................................................ CO poisoning causes longterm health harm ................................................................................................


    for Sequelae of CO poisoning

    for more on CO-induced CNS Damage

    for Neuropsychological Effects of CO poisoning

    for Mechanisms of CO-induced CNS Damage


    see Glossary


    ...... last changed 07/22/02

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