title: Cocaine use and abuse triggering sporadic young-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: To our knowledge, we describe for the first time the case of a male patient with sporadic young-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, most likely attributed to chronic regular cocaine use and abuse. Our case supports the view that cocaine use and abuse may trigger a process of motor neuron degeneration by mechanisms implicating alterations in the neurobiology of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and its receptors.
authors: Department of Neurology, Saint Andrew's State General Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece. andargyriou@yahoo.gr
authors: Andreas A
authors: AA
authors: Argyriou
authors: Panagiotis
authors: P
authors: Karanasios
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Makridou
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Vlachou
authors: Fotini
authors: F
authors: Giannakopoulou
authors: Nicolaos
authors: N
authors: Makris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000473:pathology; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D003042:Cocaine