Melanotan and the Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome
Authors: Diego Kaski, Nina Stafford, Amrish Mehta, Ieuan Harry Jenkins, Paresh Malhotra
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

Letters7 May 2013Melanotan and the Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy SyndromeDiego Kaski, MBBS, PhD, Nina Stafford, MBBS, Amrish Mehta, BSc(Hons), MBBS, Ieuan Harry Jenkins, MBBS, PhD, and Paresh Malhotra, BMBCh, PhDDiego Kaski, MBBS, PhDFrom Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this author, Nina Stafford, MBBSFrom Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this author, Amrish Mehta, BSc(Hons), MBBSFrom Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this author, Ieuan Harry Jenkins, MBBS, PhDFrom Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this author, and Paresh Malhotra, BMBCh, PhDFrom Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-9-201305070-00020 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: The posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) was first described in 1996 (1). It consists of seizures, visual disturbances, confusion, headache, and vomiting combined with a magnetic resonance imaging pattern of bilateral white matter abnormalities in the posterior regions of both cerebral hemispheres (2). Melanotan is a synthetic formulation of the naturally occurring hormone melanocortin, which stimulates α-melanocytes to produce melanin through the melanocortin-3/4 receptor. It is available in 2 versions (I and II) whose active ingredients are 2 different molecules. It is easily accessible from beauty and tanning parlors and on the Internet as a subcutaneous injection and a ...References1. Hinchey J, Chaves C, Appignani B, Breen J, Pao L, Wang A, et al. A reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1996;334:494-500. [PMID: 8559202] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Ni J, Zhou LX, Hao HL, Liu Q, Yao M, Li ML, et al. The clinical and radiological spectrum of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a retrospective series of 24 patients. J Neuroimaging. 2011;21:219-24. [PMID: 20572911] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Evans-Brown M, Dawson RT, Chandler M, McVeigh J. Use of melanotan I and II in the general population [Editorial]. BMJ. 2009;338:b566. [PMID: 19224885] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Bartynski WS, Boardman JF, Zeigler ZR, Shadduck RK, Lister J. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in infection, sepsis, and shock. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2006;27:2179-90. [PMID: 17110690] MedlineGoogle Scholar5. Li P, Cui BP, Zhang LL, Sun HJ, Liu TY, Zhu GQ. Melanocortin 3/4 receptors in paraventricular nucleus modulate sympathetic outflow and blood pressure. Exp Physiol. 2013;98:435-43. [PMID: 22872662] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Diego Kaski, MBBS, PhD; Nina Stafford, MBBS; Amrish Mehta, BSc(Hons), MBBS; Ieuan Harry Jenkins, MBBS, PhD; Paresh Malhotra, BMBCh, PhDAffiliations: From Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byRisks of unregulated use of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues: a reviewThe injecting use of image and performance-enhancing drugs (IPED) in the general population: a systematic reviewAn unhealthy glow? A review of melanotan use and associated clinical outcomesUpdate on tanning: More risks, fewer benefitsSMART: An Internet study of users experiences of synthetic tanningMelanotan II 7 May 2013Volume 158, Issue 9Page: 707-708KeywordsBlood pressureBrainBrain diseasesComputed axial tomographyEpileptic seizuresInflammationMagnetic resonance imagingToxicologyVomitingYoung adults ePublished: 7 May 2013 Issue Published: 7 May 2013 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2013 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...