Bismuth salts and neurotoxicity. A randomised, single-blind and controlled study

The aim of this work was to investigate whether the nor mal use of colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS) and bismuth subnitrate (BSN) exhibits neurotoxic side-effects. A ran domised, single-blind controlled study was carried out in 66 patients with H. pylori associated gastritis. Patients were randomised to receive either amoxicillin (control group) for 4 weeks or BSN for 8 weeks or CBS for 8 weeks. Clinical and neurophysiological tests including elec troneurography (ENG) and spectral electroencephalogra phy (EEG) were performed before and after therapy. No clinically relevant changes were observed with clinical tests as well as with ENG and spectral EEG recordings within each group and between the groups. It was con cluded that the normal use of CBS and BSN does not exhibit clinical neurotoxicity.