[Chronic manganese intoxication due to methcathinone (ephedron) abuse: a case report].

Known as an occupational disease, chronic manganese intoxication is recently being observed among abusers of psychoactive substances. Methcathinone hydrochloride is obtained by combining ephedrine/pseudoephedrine and potassium permanganate. Various neuropsychiatric symptoms have been reported among Efedron users. Our patient is a 29 year old male, who was referred to our hospital from a state general hospital with a diagnosis of Conversion Disorder. He was hospitalized and preliminary diagnoses of Facititous Disorder, Conversion Disorder, Psychiatric Disorder due to a General Medical Condition and Antisocial Personality Disorder. He was abstinent from any substance for five years upon referral to our hospital and had a history of methcathinone abuse for 4.5 years. The backache dated back to 6 years ago and a disturbance of gait was added to the clinical picture. A speech disturbance, falling while walking downhill and walking on tiptoe were added in the last 2-3 years. In the neurological examination, extrapyramidal system findings, gait disturbance and the report on use of manganese compunds were found. The setting was changed from psychiatric ward to neuorology ward and evaluated by consultant neurologist. The case was diagnosed as ?Manganese Intoxication'. The aim of this report is to demonstrate and emphasize the importance of questioning the presence of manganese compounds in case of history of substance abuse. Other areas of interest are the shortage of data on the intravenous use of manganese and the cases reported in the literature coming from the former Soviet Union.