[Seizures due to lithium intoxication (author's transl)].

Lithium intoxication may present as seizures, which have been observed when plasma lithium concentrations were decreasing. The neurotoxic effect of lithium could be due to a rise in intra-/extra-cellular lithium ratio. Intracellular retention of lithium reflected in rapid fall of plasma concentrations during treatment would modify cell membrane properties and increase neuronal excitability. Such a mechanism would explain the occurrence of seizures despite therapeutic plasma lithium concentrations.