title: Effects of chronic lithium treatment on retinal electrophysiologic function.
abstract: Some hypotheses suggest that lithium produces its therapeutic effect by reducing sensitivity to light at the level of the retina. In humans, acute administration of lithium is associated with a reduction in retinal light sensitivity. To determine whether similar retinal light sensitivity changes occur with chronic use, we studied 24 euthymic bipolar patients on chronic lithium treatment and 21 age- and sex-matched normal comparison subjects using electroretinography (ERG) and electro-oculography (EOG). No significant differences were found in ERG b-wave amplitudes or implicit times, or in EOG ratios, between the two groups. We conclude that chronic lithium use is not associated with differences in retinal light sensitivity when bipolar patients are compared to normal comparison subjects, and that there is no evidence for retinal toxicity with long-term lithium treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allain
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Remick
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004596:Electroretinography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D008094:Lithium