title: Parkinsonism induced by solvent abuse.
abstract: We report the first description of a patient with parkinsonism induced by solvent abuse. Our patient developed parkinsonism acutely, following heavy abuse of lacquer thinner. Her clinical deficits were indistinguishable from idiopathic parkinsonism (Parkinson's disease) and she responded to levodopa. Parkinsonism has persisted for more than 3 months. Brain computed tomography was normal. Positron emission tomographic studies showed normal fluorodopa uptake and reduced raclopride binding, indicating an unusual disturbance of striatal dopaminergic function. This patient suggests that organic solvents may cause parkinsonism in susceptible individuals.
authors.affiliation: Neurodegenerative Disorders Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Uitti
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Snow
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shinotoh
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Vingerhoets
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Markey
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Markey
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Calne
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012997:Solvents; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents; D007980:Levodopa