Neurological responses reaction time, muscle strength and surface integrated electromyography in male patients with chronic arsemic poisoning

Abstract

Neurological responses, reaction time (RT), muscle strength (MS) and surface integrated electromyography (IEMG) in patients with chronic arsenic poisoning were studied in two groups of Thai rural males at Amphoe Ron Phibun, Changwat Nakhon Sri Thammarat, ranging in age from 14-60 years. One was a group of healthy sedentary subjects (CT-group from the same socioeconomimcal status with patients) (n=27, age = 36.5 + 2.41 years), (As-group). Warned simple reaction timem (RT) from tactile stimulation was determined repetitively 5 times for several combinations of stimulation site and effector organ. Forearm muscle of the prefered arm was recorded during the rest, voluntary contractions against load by elbow flexion 90๘ (1 kg, 2 kg, 3 kg, 4 kg). No significant difference was found between both right and left hand of As-group and both right and left hand of CT-group of muscle strength. Tactile reaction time of As-group (RHI, RHB, RNI, RNB), respectively was no significantly different from tactile RT of CT-group respectively and there was no significantly difference between IEMG of As-group and CT-group respectively. There is no significant change with age in the RT, MTS, IEMG among C-group and As-group in different age groups of 20-30, 30-40, 40-50 years old. The above data indicate that the neurological sign, muscular strength, psychomotor speed of chronic arsenic poisoning patients may be still normal compared with control subjects.