Pork-Processing Neuropathy: Why Now?

An update of 17 of the 24 workers at pork-processing plants, who developed a progressive inflammatory neuropathy (PIN), were provided at the recent annual meeting of the American Neurological Association ("Outbreak of polyradiculopathy in pork workers") in September. Follow-up is also provided by coverage in the October 16 issue of Neurology Today.

The neuropathy is believed to be due to the development of antibodies to inhaled, aerosolized pig brain among workers who removed the brains from pig crania by using compressed air. These antibodies then cross-reacted with the worker's peripheral nerves to produce the disorder. In 2 cases, investigators have also found CNS involvement.

Among the questions prompted by the newly recognized disorder, given that the process of "blowing brains" at the "head table" has been around for a while, is Why now? Some speculate that a rapid increase in production produced more "splatter" and therefore a higher chance of inhaling aerolized brain matter. Another possibility is that the disorder was previously unrecognized, given 1) the high employee turnover at plants, 2) the fact that these workers often don't speak English, and/or 3) the probability that affected workers are reluctant to report illness.

Investigators indicate that individuals with PIN generally experienced clinical improvement once they were removed from the work environment. Some have received immunodulatory therapy. Pending are a comparative analysis of those who received treatment and those who did not and an epidemiologic analysis from the Minnesota Department of Health.