Download PDF
Pharmacopsychiatry 2009; 42(3): 125-126
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1112126
Letter

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cerebellar Atrophy after Long-term Treatment with Low-dose Lithium

M. Fischera 1 , K. Anneken 1 , S. Evers 1 , S. Kloska 2 , I.-W. Husstedt 1
  • 1Department of Neurology, University of Münster, Germany
  • 2Department of Radiology, University of Erlangen, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

received 07.05.2008 revised 10.11.2008

accepted 13.11.2008

Publication Date:
18 May 2009 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

We report a patient with lithium treatment who developed cerebellar signs of dysfunction and atrophy after 20 years; serum lithium levels always were normal. No other reason for the cerebellar atrophy could be found; treatment with lithium within therapeutic ranges for a period over 20 years must be the origin.

References

  • 1 Adityanjee, Munshi K, Thampy A. The syndrome of irreversible lithium-effectuated neurotoxicity.  Clin Neuropharmacol. 2005;  28 38-49
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Arlt S, Burkhardt D, Wiedemann K. Thyrotoxicosis after iodine contrast medium administration: rapid mood swing to mania and subsequent psychotic depression in a patient with bipolar disorder during litium therapy.  Pharmacopsychiatry. 2008;  41 163-165
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Chuang DM. Neuroprotective and neurotrophic actions of the mood stabilizer lithium: can it be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases?.  Crit Rev Neurobiol. 2004;  16 83-90
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Epstein Y, Albukrek D, Kalmovitc B. et al . Heat intolerance induced by antidepressants.  Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1997;  813 553-558
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Halmagyi GM, Lessell I, Curthoys IS. et al . Lithium-induced downbeat nystagmus.  Am J Ophthalmol. 1989;  107 664-670
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Halmagyi MG, Rudge P, Gresty MA. et al . Downbeating nystagmus – A review of 62 cases.  Arch Neurol. 1983;  40 777-784
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Mangano WE, Montine TJ, Hulette CM. Pathologic assessment of cerebellar atrophy following acute lithium intoxication.  Clin Neuropathol. 1997;  16 30-33
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Moore GJ, Bebchuk JM, Wilds IB. et al . Lithium-induced increase in human brain grey matter.  Lancet. 2000;  356 1241-1242
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Nagaraja D, Taly AB, Sahu RN. et al . Permanent neurological sequelae due to lithium toxicity.  Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 1987;  89 31-34
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Niethammer M, Ford B. Permanent lithium-induced cerebellar toxicity: Three cases and review of literature.  Movement Disorders. 2007;  22 570-573
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Wilting I, Egberts AC, Movig KL. et al . The association between concomitant use of serotonergic antidepressants and lithium-induced polyuria. A multicenter medical chart review study.  Pharmacopsychiatry. 2008;  41 129-133
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar

Correspondence

M. FischeraMD 

Department of Neurology

University of Münster

Albert-Schweitzer-Str. 33

48149 Münster

Germany

Phone: +49/251/83 482 86

Fax: +49/251/83 483 38

Email: Marthe.Fischera@web.de

      >