[Lithium-induced encephalopathy mimicking Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease].
BACKGROUND
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) has a poor prognosis. Certain clinical presentations can be suggestive yet mimic a curable disease.


METHODS
In the present study, we report the case of a 67-year-old man with a one-month history of progressive dementia, with myoclonic jerks and cerebellar syndrome suggesting a diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob encephalopathy. He had been treated for 9 years with lithium for a bipolar disorder. The results of the different investigations and the favorable course after discontinuation of lithium were in favor of the diagnosis of drug-induced Creutzfeldt-Jakob syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates the importance for researching a curable etiology in presence of clinical features suggesting a CJD.
Mouldi
S
S
Service de Neurologie et Pathologie du Mouvement, EA 2683, Hôpital Roger Salengro, rue du Professeur Emile Laine, CHRU, 59037 Lille Cedex.
Le Rhun
E
E
Gautier
S
S
Devemy
M
M
Destée
A
A
Defebvre
L
L
D000368:Aged; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018021:Lithium Chloride