[Irreversible neurologic injuries in lithium therapy]

Severe lithium intoxication and irreversible neurologic damage was observed in two patients during long-term treatment with lithium salts. In one case intoxication was caused by overdosage, in the other an acute febrile disorder was pathogenetically relevant. Both patients had previously tolerated treatment with lithium without problems thus leading to underestimation of the risk of intoxication. Besides medical control of treatment by assessment of serum levels patients should be particularly informed about early symptoms of intoxication and critical situations facilitating occurrence of an intoxication.