Parkinson's Disease in a Chemist Working with 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-L,2,5,6-Tetrahydropyridine

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
To the Editor: We have recently reported that in patients receiving 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) intravenously all the classic features of Parkinson's disease develop.1 , 2 This phenomenon appears to result from selective cell damage in the substantia nigra — a finding that has now been confirmed in primates.3 To date, all patients experiencing these tragic complications of exposure to MPTP have received the substance intravenously.2 , 4 We now report a case of Parkinson's disease in a person who was exposed to MPTP but who never received the substance intravenously.A 49-year-old chemist began working in 1964 for a major pharmaceutical company. During the next . . .