A severe course of the COVID-19 in a patient receiving prophylactically lithium

Karolina Gattner; Janusz Rybakowski

eISSN: 2449-9315
ISSN: 1234-8279

Pharmacotherapy in Psychiatry and Neurology/Farmakoterapia w Psychiatrii i Neurologii

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2/2020
vol. 36

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abstract:

Case report

A severe course of the COVID-19 in a patient receiving prophylactically lithium

Karolina Gattner

¹

,

Janusz Rybakowski

²

Centrum Psychiatryczne Szpitala HCP w Poznaniu

Klinika Psychiatrii Dorosłych, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Poznaniu

Farmakoterapia w Psychiatrii i Neurologii 2020, 36 (2), 143–148

Online publish date: 2021/12/06

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Introduction
The SARS-CoV2 pandemic makes a chal lenge for patients with bipolar disorder receiving prophy lactically lithium. There have been findings pointing to the antiviral effect of lithium which arouse suppositions that using the drug may prevent or attenuate the illness

Case report
A 58-year old male patient, inhabitant of Lombardy, with bipolar disorder for more than 20 years, who have been receiving prophylactically lithi um and valproate since 2010. In February 2020, became infected with COVID-19 disease, with a temperature of 40°C; chest pain, dyspnoea, and dry cough developed. SARS-CoV2 infection was confirmed by PCR test; chest imaging showed characteristic changes for the infection. He was treated with antibiotics, oxygen, fluids, and an tipyretic drugs. Hyperpyrexia and respiratory problems persisted for 40 day; full recovery occurred after 7 weeks.

Comments
This case shows that also in patients on long term lithium therapy, COVID-19 may run a severe course.

keywords:

A severe course of the COVID-19 in a patient receiving prophylactically lithium

Karolina Gattner 1 , Janusz Rybakowski 2

SARS -CoV2, COVID-19, lithium, antiviral activity

Karolina Gattner

¹

,

Janusz Rybakowski

²