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. 2011 Feb 17:2011:865319.
doi: 10.4061/2011/865319.

Manganese-Induced Parkinsonism due to Ephedrone Abuse

Katrin Sikk  1 , Sulev Haldre, Sten-Magnus Aquilonius, Pille Taba
Affiliations

Manganese-Induced Parkinsonism due to Ephedrone Abuse

Katrin Sikk et al. Parkinsons Dis. .

Abstract

During recent years, a syndrome of hypokinesia, dysarthria, dystonia, and postural impairment, related to intravenous use of a "designer" psychostimulant derived from pseudoephedrine using potassium permanganate as the oxidant, has been observed in drug addicts in several countries in Eastern Europe with some cases also in Western countries. A levodopa unresponsive Parkinsonian syndrome occurs within a few months of abusing the homemade drug mixture containing ephedrone (methcathinone) and manganese. The development of this neurological syndrome has been attributed to toxic effects of manganese, but the role of the psychostimulant ephedrone is unclear. This paper describes the clinical syndrome, results of neuroimaging, and therapeutic attempts.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
T1-weighted axial MRIs of the brain showing an increased signal in the globus pallidus in an active user and and two years after cessation of exposure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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