PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Kiran Samra AU - Ian S Boon AU - Gregory Packer AU - Saiju Jacob TI - Lethal high: acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) triggered by toxic effect of synthetic cannabinoid <em>black mamba</em> AID - 10.1136/bcr-2016-218431 DP - 2017 Apr 22 TA - BMJ Case Reports PG - bcr-2016-218431 VI - 2017 4099 - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2017/bcr-2016-218431.short 4100 - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2017/bcr-2016-218431.full AB - A previously well 25-year-old man presented with agitation, double incontinence and left-sided incoordination. His symptoms started after smoking a synthetic cannabinoid (black mamba) 5 days earlier. Over 48 hours, he developed aphasia, generalised hypertonia, hyper-reflexia and dense left hemiparesis. This progressed to profuse diaphoresis, fever, tachycardia, hypertension and a possible seizure necessitating admission to the intensive care unit. CT head and cerebrospinal fluid analysis were unremarkable. MRI brain demonstrated asymmetric multifocal hyperintense lesions in white and grey matter, which raised suspicions of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). An electroencephalogram showed widespread brain wave slowing, indicating diffuse cerebral dysfunction. Cerebral angiogram was normal. Toxicology analysis of the substance confirmed a potent synthetic cannabinoid NM2201, technically legal at the time. The patient made a slow but significant recovery after a course of intravenous methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulins and oral steroids, and was later transferred to a rehabilitation bed.