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Morton R. Weinstein, MD; Michael D. Goldfield, MD
San Francisco

JAMA. 1970;214(7):1325.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Wilbanks et al (213: 865-867, 1970) describe a case of acute postpartum lithium ion toxicity affecting both mother and neonate. They conclude that the rapid increase of serum lithium to toxic levels which developed immediately following delivery resulted from the hemodynamic and metabolic changes of parturition. "The effects of diuretics during the last trimester and the hemodynamic and hormonal changes occurring with delivery may lead to unpredictable changes in lithium ion balance and a toxic conditions" [italics added]. They caution against the use of lithium ion late in pregnancy. We agree with Wilbanks et al and others about the need for caution in the use of lithium during pregnancy^1-4 but we do not agree that the toxicity their patient developed was unpredictable, or that it was caused chiefly by lithium ion itself.

The patient described by Wilbanks et al received diuretics intermittently throughout the last month . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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