Characteristics of patients with no underlying toxicologic syndrome evaluated in a toxicology clinic.

BACKGROUND: A significant number of patients seek medical evaluation for chronic subjective symptoms they presume to be associated with a single toxic trigger. This report describes our clinic experience with these patients.

CASE SERIES: Twenty patients (of a total of 261 patients) with a mean age of 41 years (median age 42 years; range: 4 to 65 years) were evaluated over an 8 month period. All describe a single past toxic exposure triggering their nonspecific (usually vaguely neurologic) symptoms. Zero of 20 (0%) describe other chemical sensitivities; 2/20 (10%) report ongoing exposure, 18/20 (90%) had a limited exposure dating 1 month to 6 yrs prior to toxicology clinic evaluation; 9/20 (45%) are currently employed; 6/20 (30%) sought alternative medical therapy prior to toxicologist evaluation; 6/20/(30%) have attempted litigation.

CONCLUSION: Despite repeatedly normal toxicologic and medical evaluations, all data refuting an underlying toxic cause are not accepted by this series of patients, and their search for a diagnostic linkage persists. Specific toxin identification or treatment for these patients is unlikely to occur.