Electrohypersensitivity as a Newly Identified and Characterized Neurologic Pathological Disorder: How to Diagnose, Treat, and Prevent It

Int J Mol Sci · 2020 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1567

Study snapshot

PublicationInt J Mol Sci · 2020

Study typereview

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Electrohypersensitivity as a Newly Identified and Characterized Neurologic Pathological Disorder: How to Diagnose, Treat, and Prevent It Belpomme D, Irigaray P. Electrohypersensitivity as a Newly Identified and Characterized Neurologic Pathological Disorder: How to Diagnose, Treat, and Prevent It. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Mar 11;21(6). pii: E1915. doi: 10.3390/ijms21061915. Abstract Since 2009, we built up a database which presently includes more than 2000 electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and/or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) self-reported cases. This database shows that EHS is associated in 30% of the cases with MCS, and that MCS precedes the occurrence of EHS in 37% of these EHS/MCS-associated cases. EHS and MCS can be characterized clinically by a similar symptomatic picture, and biologically by low- grade inflammation and an autoimmune response involving autoantibodies against O-myelin. Moreover, 80% of the patients with EHS present with one, two, or three detectable oxidative stress biomarkers in their peripheral blood, meaning that overall these patients present with a true objective somatic disorder. Moreover, by using ultrasonic cerebral tomosphygmography and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, we showed that cases have a defect in the middle cerebral artery hemodynamics, and we localized a tissue pulsometric index deficiency in the capsulo-thalamic area of the temporal lobes, suggesting the involvement of the limbic system and the thalamus. Altogether, these data strongly suggest that EHS is a neurologic pathological disorder which can be diagnosed, treated, and prevented. Because EHS is becoming a new insidious worldwide plague involving millions of people, we ask the World Health Organization (WHO) to include EHS as a neurologic disorder in the international classification of diseases. Conclusions In summary, we showed that there are presently su fficient clinical, biological, and radiological data for EHS to be acknowledged as a well-defined, objectively identified, and characterized pathological neurologic disorder. As a result, patients who self-report they su ffer from EHS should be diagnosed and treated on the basis of presently available biological tests, including the detection of peripheral blood and urine biomarkers and the use of imaging techniques such as fMRI, TDU, and, when possible, UCTS. Moreover, because we showed for the first time that EHS is frequently associated with MCS and that both clinico-biological entities may be associated with a common physiopathological mechanism for genesis, it clearly appears that they can be identified as a unique neurologic pathological syndrome whatever their causal origin. Moreover; as it was shown that MCS genesis may be attributed to toxic chemical exposure, and EHS genesis to potentially excessive EMF and/or chemical exposure; protective measures against these two environmental stressors should be taken. Whatever its causal origin and mechanism of action, EHS should therefore be from now on recognized as a new identified and characterized neurological pathological disorder. As it is already a real health plague potentially involving millions of people worldwide it should be acknowledged by WHO, and thus be included in the WHO ICD. As stated during the international scientific consensus meeting on EHS and MCS that we have organized in 2015 in Brussels, scientists unanimously asked WHO to urgently assume its responsibilities, by classifying EHS and MCS as separate codes in the ICD; so as to increase scientific awareness of these two pathological entities in the medical community and the general public, and to foster research and train medical practitioners to e ciently diagnose, treat, and prevent EHS and MCS-which in fact constitute a unique, well-defined, and identifiable new neurologic disease. Open access paper: mdpi.com

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview

Effect directionharm

PopulationSelf-reported electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and/or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) cases in a database built since 2009

Sample size2000

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 84% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The authors report that in their database of more than 2000 self-reported EHS and/or MCS cases, EHS was associated with MCS in 30% of cases, and MCS preceded EHS in 37% of EHS/MCS-associated cases. They state that many patients showed biomarkers of oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation, autoimmune response, and altered cerebral hemodynamics, and conclude that EHS is a neurologic pathological disorder.

Outcomes measured

Association of EHS with MCS
Clinical symptom profile
Low-grade inflammation
Autoimmune response with autoantibodies against O-myelin
Oxidative stress biomarkers in peripheral blood
Middle cerebral artery hemodynamics
Tissue pulsometric index deficiency in the capsulo-thalamic area of the temporal lobes

Limitations

Population consists of self-reported EHS and/or MCS cases
Abstract does not describe a control group
Abstract does not provide detailed study design for the reported database analyses
Findings are presented largely as authors' interpretations and summary statements

View raw extracted JSON

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  "exposure": {
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  },
  "population": "Self-reported electrohypersensitivity (EHS) and/or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) cases in a database built since 2009",
  "sample_size": 2000,
  "outcomes": [
    "Association of EHS with MCS",
    "Clinical symptom profile",
    "Low-grade inflammation",
    "Autoimmune response with autoantibodies against O-myelin",
    "Oxidative stress biomarkers in peripheral blood",
    "Middle cerebral artery hemodynamics",
    "Tissue pulsometric index deficiency in the capsulo-thalamic area of the temporal lobes"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The authors report that in their database of more than 2000 self-reported EHS and/or MCS cases, EHS was associated with MCS in 30% of cases, and MCS preceded EHS in 37% of EHS/MCS-associated cases. They state that many patients showed biomarkers of oxidative stress, low-grade inflammation, autoimmune response, and altered cerebral hemodynamics, and conclude that EHS is a neurologic pathological disorder.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Population consists of self-reported EHS and/or MCS cases",
    "Abstract does not describe a control group",
    "Abstract does not provide detailed study design for the reported database analyses",
    "Findings are presented largely as authors' interpretations and summary statements"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.84,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electrohypersensitivity",
    "EHS",
    "multiple chemical sensitivity",
    "MCS",
    "neurologic disorder",
    "oxidative stress",
    "autoimmunity",
    "O-myelin autoantibodies",
    "cerebral hemodynamics",
    "transcranial Doppler",
    "ultrasonic cerebral tomosphygmography",
    "WHO"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3390/ijms21061915
PubMed: Not supplied

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