What is the SILENT syndrome and what are its features?
The syndrome of irreversible lithium-effectuated neurotoxicity, or SILENT syndrome, is diagnosed when a patient has persistent neurological changes that persist at least 2 months after lithium discontinuation. Elevated lithium concentrations are not necessarily required to develop neurological sequelae.
Cuigniez M, Audenaert K, Santens P, Heylens G. SILENT: The syndrome of irreversible lithium-effectuated neurotoxicity: A case report with two years follow-up. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2020 Aug;195:106057. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2020.106057. Epub 2020 Jun 30. PMID: 32650212.
Contributed by Juan Rodriguez, PGY-3 Emergency Medicine resident, St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima, Ohio
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