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Pharmacopsychiatry 2013; 46(03): 120-121
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1323784
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Lithium Treatment of a Bipolar Patient with Wilson’s Disease: A Case Report

J. K. Rybakowski
1   Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
,
T. Litwin
2   2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
,
M. Chlopocka-Wozniak
1   Department of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
,
A. Czlonkowska
2   2nd Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 12 July 2012
revised 10 August 2012

accepted 16 August 2012

Publication Date:
04 October 2012 (online)

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Abstract

We present the case of a male patient with a family history of both bipolar disorder (BD) and Wilson’s disease (WD). Wilson’s disease was diagnosed for this patient in 2008, at the age of 28 years, and shortly thereafter his bipolar illness began with depressive episodes. The patient has been treated with zinc sulphate for WD and with antidepressants for depression. In 2009, lithium was added, and in 2010 antidepressants were discontinued. During treatment with zinc sulphate, a gradual improvement of hepatic indices and a decrease of mandibulofacial dystonia was noted. In 2011, a hypomanic state occurred which subsided with an increase of the lithium dose. Since then, the patient has been mostly in a euthymic mood with subclinical hypomanic periods. We suggest that lithium may be a viable option for treating bipolar illness in patients with Wilson’s disease.

Key words

bipolar disorder - liver disease patients - lithium
 

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