A case of lithium neurotoxicity with irreversible cerebellar syndrome

Article Abstract:

Lithium carbonate provides a useful and fairly specific form of chemotherapy for manic psychosis and manic-depressive disorders. Side effects involving serious neurological damage are rare. A 31-year-old white male developed irreversible cerebellar syndrome after treatment with lithium. He was admitted to the hospital in a manic state accompanied by delusions, hallucinations and aggressive outbursts fueled by frequent alcoholic bouts. Several trials of various neuroleptics (antipsychotic medications) were carried out unsuccessfully. Five months after admission, he developed a high fever. Physical, laboratory and neurological examinations were negative except for an increase in his white cell count and blood levels of two muscle enzymes. Because neuroleptic malignant syndrome was suspected, he was withdrawn from all neuroleptics. Within three days, temperature and blood levels returned to normal. Lithium therapy was then initiated. Eleven days later he began vomiting and complaining of visual problems. He had difficulty swallowing, and demonstrated symptoms of cerebellar syndrome, including muscle incoordination, hand tremor, vertical eye-rolling, and stiffness of the joints. Again, all physical, laboratory and neurological exams, including computerized tomography scans, were normal. Three months later, magnetic resonance imaging revealed mild cerebellar reduction (atrophy). Despite all rehabilitation efforts he was still unable to walk after one year. His case suggests a possible association between alcoholism, the administration of lithium just after an episode of high fever, and increased risk for susceptibility to cerebellar syndrome. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Lithium, Lithium (Metal), Brain diseases

---

Untying the Gordian knot: the genetics of Tourette syndrome

Article Abstract:

Tourette syndrome, a neurologic disorder characterized by involuntary jerking of the face and limbs and incoherent grunts and other sounds, was characterized for many years as psychogenic in origin; however, cases are now known to cluster within families. The complex genetic basis for this disorder is discussed. Tourette syndrome has an onset prior to the age of 21 and the muscular and vocal tics occur frequently throughout a day, usually coming in bouts. Evidence from adoption, twin, and family studies that led to the understanding of the syndrome's hereditary nature is presented. Techniques for identifying the gene that causes Tourette syndrome are reviewed; research results so far favor a single gene defect as causal. Even when the gene is identified, much will remain to be learned concerning the ways its products produce the constellation of symptoms that make up Tourette syndrome. Experimental work to learn more about the disorder has focused on the systems in the brain that use dopamine, a neurotransmitter. Drugs that alleviate the symptoms act to reduce the effects of this system, and lesions of a dopamine-producing region in the rat brain leads to symptoms that resemble Tourette symptoms, to an extent. Hypotheses regarding the mechanisms by which an aberrant dopamine system could produce Tourette syndrome remain unproven, however. Molecular biology may soon be able to identify the defective gene, and then to clone it. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Causes of, Physiological aspects, Development and progression, Genetic aspects, Tourette's syndrome, Tourette syndrome

---

Psychiatric disorders in persons with Down syndrome

Article Abstract:

The frequency and nature of psychiatric disorders in individuals with Down syndrome has not been reported by very many researchers, but the few studies that have been published estimate that between 13 percent and 25 percent of individuals with Down syndrome also have psychiatric disorders. In the present study, 497 people with Down syndrome, ranging in age from 1 to 72 years, underwent psychological and psychiatric evaluation and their medical charts were reviewed. Of the 497 individuals, 261 were under 20 years of age, 164 were 20 years or older, and 72 were state school residents. Overall, 22.1 percent of the subjects had a psychiatric diagnosis. For those under 20 years of age, the most frequent diagnoses involved disruptive behaviors, anxiety disorders, and repetitive behaviors. In the older group, the most frequent diagnosis was depression. Those in the state school group were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia. It is concluded, a significant number of patients with Down syndrome have concurrent psychiatric disorder, but the overall percentage is fairly low when compared with other mentally retarded populations. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Statistics, Mental illness, Mental disorders, Down syndrome, Mentally disabled persons

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: The use of the eating disorder examination with children: a pilot study. Mortality and sudden death in anorexia nervosa
• Abstracts: A preliminary investigation of alexithymia in men with psychoactive substance dependence. ''To take arms against a sea of troubles.''
• Abstracts: Brain neurotransmitter changes in three patients who had a fatal hyperthermia syndrome. Autoantibodies to brain lipids in schizophrenia
• Abstracts: The present status of akathisia. Florid refractory schizophrenias that turn out to be treatable variants of HLA-associated narcolepsy

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.