Subclinical lithium neurotoxicity: correlation of neural conduction abnormalities and serum lithium level in manic-depressive patients with lithium treatment |
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Authors: | Y.-C. Chang H.-N. Lin H.-C. Deng |
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Affiliation: | Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, R.o.C. |
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Abstract: | Nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) and multimodality evoked potentials were studies in 28 manic-depressive patients under lithium prophylaxis with serum lithium levels between 0.320 and 0.980 mEq/L. Slowing of motor and sensory NCVs and prolonged central neural conduction times obtained from somatosensory and brainstem auditory evoked potentials were found to correlate with serum lithium levels. Lithium-induced changes in cell membrane conductivity and in the synaptic transmission are considered responsible for the neurotoxic effects of lithium. |
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Keywords: | nerve conduction velocities cerebral evoked potentials central neural conduction: lithium |
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