D. Lecamwasam et al., CHRONIC LITHIUM NEUROTOXICITY PRESENTING AS PARKINSONS-DISEASE, International clinical psychopharmacology, 9(2), 1994, pp. 127-129
A 71 year old man who had been on lithium for 9 years for mania presen
ted with an encephalopathic illness which was almost certainly due to
lithium intoxication. Having recovered from this acute episode (althou
gh he was left with some sequelae) he was recommenced on lithium for h
is manic symptoms with a careful control of his blood levels. After re
maining fairly stable for 8 years he presented with features suggestiv
e of Parkinsonism and was admitted to hospital for investigation. Ther
e was no history of taking additional medication such as antidepressan
ts or antipsychotics. He died in hospital and a post-mortem examinatio
n confirmed the cause of death as acute myocardial infarction. However
histological examination of the brain revealed neurological sequelae
of chronic lithium intoxication. There was no evidence of degenerative
condition such as Parkinsonism or Alzheimer's disease.