'Khatatonia' - cathinone-induced hypertensive encephalopathy

Abstract

Khat consumption is an under-recognised cause of hypertensive encephalopathy and intraparenchymal brain haemorrhage. We report the radiological findings of extensive periventricular, subcortical and brain stem white matter pathology of a patient who had consumed excessive amounts of Khat. The Khat plant contains cathinone, an amphetamine-like alkaloid which has been associated with chronic hypertensive end-organ damage, but is seldom considered a cause of cerebrovascular events in northern Europe.