Choreoathetosis related to lithium intoxication

Abstract

A 76-year old woman was admitted because of severe gait ataxia and dysarthric speech that had worsened over the last 24 h. The patient was initially suspected of having repeated transitory ischemic attacks (TIAs) as her daughter reported a similar episode that had happened 3 weeks prior to admission. The onset of spontaneous twisting, choreoathetotic movements of both hands and arms and worsening of symptoms one hour after admission together with a history of lithium therapy lead to the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Acute chorea: case series from the emergency room of a Brazilian tertiary-level center

“…Additionally, drug-related chorea cases presented as generalized chorea syndrome. Several centrally-acting drugs, such as as neuroleptics, metoclopramide, lithium, SSRI and cocaine, have previously been identified as possible causes of medication-induced chorea 7,13,14 . One previous case report describing lithium toxicity leading to sporadic chorea mentioned risk factors such as advanced age, use of concomitant medications and impaired kidney function 14 .…”

“…Several centrally-acting drugs, such as as neuroleptics, metoclopramide, lithium, SSRI and cocaine, have previously been identified as possible causes of medication-induced chorea 7,13,14 . One previous case report describing lithium toxicity leading to sporadic chorea mentioned risk factors such as advanced age, use of concomitant medications and impaired kidney function 14 . Other less common substances that have been reported as causes of druginduced chorea include carbon monoxide, manganese, mercury and organophosphate poisoning 1 .…”

Antioxidant and electrochemical properties of calcium and lithium ascorbates

“…Unfortunately, most of them have been found to be toxic [9]. Lithium intoxication may be a life-threatening complication of chronic lithium therapy for manic-depressive disorders [10][11][12]. Consequently synthesis of new forms of compounds on the basis of salts of calcium and lithium and study of their properties are very actual.…”

Hemichorea Associated with CASPR2 Antibody

“…To conclude, autoimmune processes must be considered in the differential diagnosis of adult-onset chorea. Besides laboratory and cerebrospinal fluid analysis,9,10a serum panel of autoantibodies, including LGI1 and CASPR2, may contribute to the diagnosis.…”