title: Possible association between maternal lithium therapy and premature closure of the arterial duct. A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Frequent causes of premature ductal closure include spontaneous idiopathic closure in utero and maternal use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs late in pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a case of a preterm infant born to a mother treated with lithium throughout pregnancy who presented with right-sided cardiac enlargement at 18 weeks' gestation. Immediately following delivery, echocardiography demonstrated a small closing patent arterial duct.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend that serial fetal echocardiography with emphasis on Doppler interrogation of the patent arterial duct be performed whenever a pregnant woman is taking lithium. The interrogation of the patent arterial duct is particularly important if right-sided chamber enlargement is noted at fetal sonography as this finding can be an early manifestation of premature ductal constriction.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. dellis1@tulane.edu
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Vitor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pridjian
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Recto
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008094:Lithium