A 25-year-old man from a village where kesari dal (Lathyrus sativus) forms a large part of the winter diet develops progressive spastic paraplegia over months with a scissors gait, preserved upper limb power, and intact bladder function. The toxin responsible for this neurolathyrism is:

• A Mimosine
• B Glycoside linamarin
• C Aminopterin
• D Beta-N-oxalylaminoalanine (BOAA) ✓

Explanation

Neurolathyrism is a spastic paraplegia caused by BOAA (also called ODAP), an excitatory amino acid in Lathyrus sativus that damages upper motor neurons. Prevention includes limiting the dal to less than one third of the diet, soaking and decanting the water, and parboiling, which destroys the toxin. Linamarin is a cyanogenic glycoside in cassava causing konzo, a related but distinct entity.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 26th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.