Polyneuropathy in Lithium Intoxication: A Case Report

Intoxication of lithium carbonate may present as a multiple systematic dysfunction, but central and peripheral nervous involvement is rare and more troublesome. In the past, there was only one case of lithium intoxication with polyneuroparhy reported by Chang et al in Taiwan. We report here an additional 49 year-old man with manic-depressive psychosis. He received lithium carbonate medication treatment for 5 years and developed a severe cerebellar dysfunction and a mild sensori-motor polyneuropathy. Blood lithium level was 1.80meq/l two days after quitting lithium. Nerve conduction velocity studied, electromyography and sural nerve biopsy confirmed the peripheral neuropathy with marked evidence of axonal degeneration. The patient got improvement after quitting the medication and receiving rehabilitation therapy.