title: Manganese-Induced Parkinsonism due to Ephedrone Abuse.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Tartu, L. Puusepa 8, 51014 Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sikk
authors.forename: Sulev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haldre
authors.forename: Sten-Magnus
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aquilonius
authors.forename: Pille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taba