Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy (SMON) is an iatrogenic disease of the nervous system[1] leading to a disablingparalysis, blindness and even death.[2] Its defining manifestation was as an epidemic in Japan during the 1960s: the Japanese government estimated 11,000 were affected; however, the College of Medicine at the University of Tokyo put the number at 30,000, citing a lack of preservation of medical records for longer than five years and a lack of cooperation from doctors as the reasons for the discrepancy.[3]
In September 1970 the president of the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Council, Morizo Ishidate, ordered a stop to the use of clioquinol, marketed as quinoform, because he had correctly deduced that SMON was caused by clioquinol intoxication.[4][5] On August 3, 1978, the Tokyo District Court ruled that the cause of SMON is Clioquinol. Its manufacturer, Ciba-Geigy, has publicly stated that "Medical products manufactured and sold by us have been responsible for the occurrence of [SMON] in Japan, we extend our apologies."[3]
SMON was first observed and diagnosed in Sweden 1966, by the pediatrician and neurologist Olle Hansson.[6] Clioquinol was marketed as a prophylaxis to tourist diarrhoea. Dr. Olle Hansson was in the front line, fighting for a ban of clioquinol. Doctors in many countries boycotted Ciba-Geigy for many years. Not until 1985 was the pharmaceutical withdrawn. Dr Hansson died a few months later. The day of his death, May 23, is observed as the Anti-Hazardous Drug Day in several parts of the world.[citation needed]
References
↑ Takasu T (November 2003). "[SMON--a model of the iatrogenic disease]". Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 43 (11): 866–9. PMID15152488.
↑ Morimoto, Kazushige (2016). "The Heroic and Noble Life of Morizo ISHIDATE Commemorating the 115 years since his birth and 20 years since his death". Yakushigaku Zasshi. 51 (1): 1–4. PMID30182706.
↑ Igata, Akihiro (April 2010). "Clinical studies on rising and re-rising neurological diseases in Japan – A personal contribution". Proceedings of the Japan Academy. Series B, Physical and Biological Sciences. 86 (4): 366–377. doi:10.2183/pjab.86.366.
Reisaku Kono, "Relation between Subacute Myelo-Optic Neuropathy (S.M.O.N.) and Clioquinol: Nationwide Survey", The Lancet, V301, I7796, January 27, 1973, pp.171–173
Reisaku Kono, "The S.M.O.N. Virus Theory", The Lancet, V306, I7930, August 23, 1975, pp.370–371
Reisaku Kono, Yoshigoro Kuroiwa, "Subacute Myelo-Optic Neuropathy is not a special form of multiple sclerosis", The Lancet, V320, I8292, July 31, 1982, p.267
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