[Bismuth encephalopathy]

During the last years a new disease entity was predominantly observed in France and Australia, which was named bismuth encephalopathy, on account of high bismuth blood levels associated with a characteristic neuropsychiatric clinical picture. To become familiar with this in Germany unknown disease, we represent three own case reports and put together further clinical and neurochemical results. The typical features of symptom manifestations and course are described. The organic brain syndromes within the bismuth encephalopathy are outlined. Results concerning the cerebral oxidative metabolism are related pathogenically to both the intoxication by bismuth and the given psychopathology and neurology to substantiate specified brain dysfunction and/or damage of bismuth encephalopathy.