title: Central pontine myelinolysis manifested by temporary blindness: a possible complication of lithium toxicity.
abstract: Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is removal of myelin material from neural elements in a way that is not clearly known as yet. In this case of CPM, blindness was encountered and was thought to be "hysterical." The blindness went away after four months. After reviewing the literature we suggest the CPM was a complication of lithium toxicity which affected the lateral geniculate nucleus which produced blindness.
authors.affiliation: Psychosomatic/Consultation Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Danuta B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Fabisiak
authors.forename: George B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Theodore A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001766:Blindness / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003693:Delirium / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000139:chemically induced; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D017590:Myelinolysis, Central Pontine / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds