Death by "ecstasy": the serotonin syndrome?

"Ecstasy" or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a popular drug of abuse and is generally regarded as safe by the lay public. There are an increasing number of reports of MDMA-induced toxicity that exhibit features of the serotonin syndrome. We report a case of severe hyperthermia, altered mental status, and autonomic dysfunction after a single recreational ingestion of MDMA.