[Acute encephalomyopathy and persistent cerebellar syndrome after lithium salt and haloperidol poisoning]

Abstract

A 44-year-old maniacodepressive woman developed acute encephalopathy due to the association of lithium carbonate and haloperidol. She was treated with lithium salts for many years and the serum level of lithium was within the therapeutic range. The encephalopathy was worsened by hyperthermia, dehydration, and reintroduction of haloperidol, 5 days after the first discontinuation of the neuroleptic. The clinical features were characterized by a persistent cerebellar syndrome, more than one year after the interruption of these medications.