[Intoxication with lithium].
We report a case of a 75-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency room with arterial hypotension and impaired vigilance. The patient was on lithium therapy due to mood disorder. One month earlier medication with a betablocker, a loop-diuretic and an ACE-inhibitor had been started due to heart failure. Findings at admission included renal insufficiency, pneumonia and a slightly increased serum level of lithium. Three days later his Glasgow Coma Scale Score was 7, he showed gaze deviation, increased muscle tonus and cloni. The patient fully recovered after volume substitution and normalization of his renal function. Diagnosis of chronic intoxication with lithium was made due to the clinical picture and after exclusion of neurological pathologies. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of lithium is described and the risk factors leading to lithium intoxication and treatment of intoxication are discussed.
Fiegler
K
K
Departement für Innere Medizin, Universitätsspital Basel, Basel.
Liechti
M E
ME
Bodmer
M
M
Bruggisser
M
M
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D018500:Diabetes Insipidus, Nephrogenic / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D006955:Hypernatremia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D007022:Hypotension / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D007671:Kidney Concentrating Ability / Q000187:drug effects; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D017590:Myelinolysis, Central Pontine / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000077786:Torsemide
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D013449:Sulfonamides; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D003404:Creatinine; D000077786:Torsemide