[Neurologic sequelae secondary to acute lithium poisoning].
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on the permanent neurological sequelae resulting from acute lithium poisoning.


METHODS
Sixty-six articles were reviewed in English and in French. They were accessed through Medline and cover the period from 1968 to 1997.


RESULTS
Fifty-nine case studies were broken down into 3 groups: lithium intoxications without a neuroleptic that has provoked a cerebellar syndrome; those in which there was a neuroleptic; and those with diverse neurological consequences, with or without a neuroleptic.


CONCLUSIONS
Lithium has an intrinsic toxicity for the central nervous system and provokes a tropism specific to the cerebellum. The association with neuroleptics appears to increase toxicity as well as some associated factors, including infections and the rapid correction of the lithium level in the blood. We discuss the psychopathological mechanisms invoked to explain lithium's neurotoxicity.
Roy
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M
Département de psychiatrie, Hôpital Louis-H. Lafontaine, Montréal, Québec.
Stip
E
E
Black
D N
DN
Lew
V
V
Langlois
R
R
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000506:poisoning*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000506:poisoning*; D012307:Risk Factors
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D008094:Lithium