Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1988 Jan;51(1):120–123. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.51.1.120

A Creutzfeldt-Jakob like syndrome due to lithium toxicity.

S J Smith 1, R S Kocen 1
PMCID: PMC1032724  PMID: 3127546

Abstract

Two patients with lithium toxicity presented with a neurological syndrome suggesting a diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. In both cases, the initial EEG was consistent with this diagnosis. Neither patient had permanent neurological sequelae and the EEG returned to normal. A careful drug history should be taken in any patient who presents with a rapidly progressive dementia even when the EEG supports a diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Full text

PDF
120

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Apte S. N., Langston J. W. Permanent neurological deficits due to lithium toxicity. Ann Neurol. 1983 Apr;13(4):453–455. doi: 10.1002/ana.410130414. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Branchey M. H., Charles J., Simpson G. M. Extrapyramidal side effects in lithium maintenance therapy. Am J Psychiatry. 1976 Apr;133(4):444–445. doi: 10.1176/ajp.133.4.444. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brust J. C., Hammer J. S., Challenor Y., Healton E. B., Lesser R. P. Acute generalized polyneuropathy accompanying lithium poisoning. Ann Neurol. 1979 Oct;6(4):360–362. doi: 10.1002/ana.410060410. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Burger L. J., Rowan A. J., Goldensohn E. S. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. An electroencephalographic study. Arch Neurol. 1972 May;26(5):428–433. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1972.00490110062006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Chiofalo N., Fuentes A., Gálvez S. Serial EEG findings in 27 cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Arch Neurol. 1980 Mar;37(3):143–145. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1980.00500520041005. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Donaldson I. M., Cuningham J. Persisting neurologic sequelae of lithium carbonate therapy. Arch Neurol. 1983 Nov;40(12):747–751. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1983.04050110065011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Green J. B. Permanent neurological deficits resulting from lithium toxicity. Ann Neurol. 1984 Jan;15(1):111–111. doi: 10.1002/ana.410150122. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hansen H. E., Amdisen A. Lithium intoxication. (Report of 23 cases and review of 100 cases from the literature). Q J Med. 1978 Apr;47(186):123–144. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Julien J., Vallat J. M., Lagueny A., Vital C. Myopathy and cerebellar syndrome during acute poisoning with lithium carbonate. Muscle Nerve. 1979 May-Jun;2(3):240–240. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Lee R. G., Blair R. D. Evolution of EEG and visual evoked response changes in Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1973 Aug;35(2):133–142. doi: 10.1016/0013-4694(73)90169-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. McCawley A., Shachnow N. K., Mandell S. Survival in lithium intoxication, status epilepticus, and prolonged comma. N Y State J Med. 1975 Feb;75(3):407–409. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Rosen P. B., Stevens R. Action myoclonus in lithium toxicity. Ann Neurol. 1983 Feb;13(2):221–222. doi: 10.1002/ana.410130232. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Tyrer P., Alexander M. S., Regan A., Lee I. An extrapyramidal syndrome after lithium therapy. Br J Psychiatry. 1980 Feb;136:191–194. doi: 10.1192/bjp.136.2.191. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Von Hartitzsch B., Hoenich N. A., Leigh R. J., Wilkinson R., Frost T. H., Weddel A., Posen G. A. Permanent neurological sequelae despite haemodialysis for lithium intoxication. Br Med J. 1972 Dec 30;4(5843):757–759. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5843.757. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Will R. G., Matthews W. B. A retrospective study of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in England and Wales 1970-79. I: Clinical features. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1984 Feb;47(2):134–140. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.47.2.134. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES