Unrecognized acute lithium toxicity: a case report

• Authors: Dragana Ristic , Marianna Siapera , Jelena Jovic , Vesna Marjanovic , Milan Radovanovic , Konstantinos Fountoulakis
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

We report a case of a 63-year-old male who has been admitted to the Emergency department with nonspecific symptoms. Lithium toxicity was not at first recognized. When we obtained sufficient information about previous medication and medical history, we measured lithium levels found to be 1.46 mmol/L. Although the value of lithium was mildly elevated, nephrotoxicity was produced leading to severe renal insufficiency and neurological symptoms. Hemodialysis was started, and we succeed to treat the patient without squeals. This case illustrates some of the factors that lead to lithium toxicity as well as the need to consider lithium toxicity to the differential diagnosis of a patient presenting with renal insufficiency with or without change in mental status and neurologic symptom.

Keywords

EN

Lithium toxicity; Dehydration; Hemodialysis

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Open Medicine
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 700-703

Dates

published

1 - 12 - 2012

online

11 - 10 - 2012

Contributors

author

Dragana Ristic

• School of Medicine / Clinical center Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Serbia, Kragujevac, 34 000, Z. Jovina 30

author

Marianna Siapera

• 3rd Department of Psychiatry, AHEPA University Hospital, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

author

Jelena Jovic

• Health Center Uzice, Jug Bogdanova 4, Uzice, 31000, Serbia

author

Vesna Marjanovic

• Emergency Department, Clinical Center Kragujevac, Z. Jovina 30, Kragujevac, 34 000, Serbia

author

Milan Radovanovic

• Emergency Department, Clinical Center Kragujevac, Z. Jovina 30, Kragujevac, 34 000, Serbia

author

Konstantinos Fountoulakis

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s11536-012-0058-0