J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol.  2019 Dec;17(2):79-85. 10.22537/jksct.2019.17.2.79.

Systematic Review of Vitamin B12 Regimen for Patient with Subacute Combined Degeneration of the Spinal Cord Following Nitrous Oxide Abuse

• Chung JS
• Choa MH
• Chung SP
• Park IC

• KMID: 2470190
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2019.17.2.79

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of vitamin B12 treatment in subacute combined degeneration (SCD) caused by nitrous oxide (Nâ‚‚O) abuse.
METHODS
Relevant literature was accessed through PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and KoreaMed. All the literature that was relevant to human use of vitamin B12 treatment for SCD caused by Nâ‚‚O abuse was included. Case reports were excluded if the treatment regimens were not precisely described. The literature search was conducted by two investigators during September 2019 for the final publication period. The languages of the publications were restricted to English and Korean.
RESULTS
Twenty-three published articles that contained 24 cases were included. Sixteen cases among them were treated with intramuscular vitamin B12 of 1 mg/day and the rest received different doses or routes. Although most cases described significant clinical improvements, one case showed no beneficial effect due to the patient's noncooperation. Another case showed adverse events, including spinal myoclonus, following vitamin B12 therapy.
CONCLUSION
Vitamin B12 has been broadly used for the treatment of SCD caused by Nâ‚‚O abuse. However, most of the relevant studies were case reports that reported various regimens of vitamin B12 administration. Further studies are needed to establish a standard regimen of vitamin B12 because the incidence of Nâ‚‚O abuse may increase in South Korea.

Keyword

Subacute combined degeneration; Nitrous oxide; Inhalant abuse; Vitamin B12

MeSH Terms

Humans
Incidence
Inhalant Abuse
Korea
Myoclonus
Nitrous Oxide*
Publications
Research Personnel
Spinal Cord*
Subacute Combined Degeneration*
Vitamin B 12*
Vitamins*
Nitrous Oxide
Vitamin B 12
Vitamins