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- Title
Lithium toxicity: an iatrogenic problem in susceptible individuals.
- Authors
Oakley, Patrick W.; Whyte, Ian M.; Carter, Gregory L.
- Abstract
Objective: Lithium toxicity, manifesting primarily as neurotoxicity, is a significant health problem and is primarily iatrogenic in nature. Despite 50 years of medical experience with lithium, factors contributing to the development of severe neurotoxicity remain poorly documented. We hypothesized that severe neurotoxicity represents the most clinically significant manifestation of lithium toxicity. We proposed that this occurs primarily in the context of chronic therapeutic administration (‘chronic poisoning’), rather than in the context of an overdose. Furthermore we hypothesized that patients who developed chronic poisoning did so in the presence of identifiable factors which predictably impair lithium clearance. Method: A retrospective analysis of 97 cases of lithium poisoning, treated at a regional centre over a 13-year period was performed. Demographic data and factors considered likely to relate to the risk of developing lithium toxicity were recorded. Patients were classified according to mode of poisoning (acute, acute on chronic, or chronic) and according to severity of neurotoxicity (nil, mild, moderate, severe). The risk of developing severe neurotoxicity as a result of each mode of poisoning was assessed. The association between various risk factors and the development of chronic poisoning was assessed using a logistic regression model. Results: Twenty-eight cases were rated as suffering severe neurotoxicity; in 26 this developed in the context of chronic poisoning and in two in the context of acute on chronic poisoning. All patients who developed severe neurotoxicity had at least one putative risk factor present, regardless of mode of poisoning. Length of stay was significantly longer for cases with severe neurotoxicity compared to those without severe neurotoxicity (12 vs. 2 days, P < 0.001). Peak serum lithium concentrations were significantly higher in cases with severe neurotoxicity compared to those without (2.3 vs. 1.6 mmo...
- Subjects
LITHIUM; IATROGENIC diseases; TOXICOLOGY
- Publication
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2001, Vol 35, Issue 6, p833
- ISSN
0004-8674
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1440-1614.2001.00963.x