[Acute lithium poisoning. Treatment with continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration. Apropos of a case]

We report a suicide attempt with lithium, chlorpromazine and flunitrazepam. In case of intoxication, renal excretion of lithium can be facilitated with forced diuresis by the administration of large volumes of saline solution, peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis. In the case of our patient, treatment with saline solution was not effective, so continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) was performed achieving a decrease in serum lithium and obtaining a prompt clinical improvement. No secondary effects or serum lithium rebound effect were observed. We have not found any previous record of the use of CAVH in the treatment of acute lithium intoxication.