Parkinsonism after Taking Ecstasy

Abstract

One patient a 29 year old man Notse NMDA is NOT usually associated with parkinson's. But hypothesize that a delayed neurotoxin effect MIGHt have occurred, as there are such in animals. ((Thus very very weak but possible link)) A 29-year-old man had slight clumsiness of his upper and lower extremities in August 1998. During the following four weeks he began to have difficulty walking and lost the ability to write and to drive. He was unable to continue his work in retail merchandising and then could not live independently. The results of magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, lumbar puncture, and positron-emission tomography with [(sup 18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose were normal. Tests for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus were negative on two occasions. Eleven weeks after the onset of symptoms, examination revealed a disturbance in gait and impairment of fine coordination. The patient's condition continued to worsen, and eight weeks later examination revealed bradykinesia of the face and limbs, absence of blinking, hypokinesia in relation to speech, postural instability, and a markedly parkinsonian gait. Cognitive function was normal, and there was no tremor. The patient had ingested MDMA nine times in 1997 and once more in May 1998. He denied having used any other illicit substances except cannabis. Treatment with the maximal tolerated doses of levodopa and pramipexole did not improve his symptoms.