Encephalopathy resembling Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease following oral, prescribed doses of bismuth nitrate.
A patient given bismuth nitrate in the recommended dose range over 16 months developed panic attacks and a major depressive syndrome and, after 15 months, a myoclonic encephalopathy resembling Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. He recovered four months after bismuth had been discontinued. Bismuth preparations are becoming popular in the treatment of gastritis; close attention to neurological and psychiatric symptoms seems mandatory.
Von Bose
M J
MJ
Max-Planck-Institute for Psychiatry, München, Germany.
Zaudig
M
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D001729:Bismuth / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010200:Panic; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*
D001729:Bismuth