[Lithium use in women with bipolar disorder during peripartum]. / Lithiumgebruik bij vrouwen met een bipolaire stoornis tijdens het peripartum overzichtsartikel.

BACKGROUND: Lithium use during peripartum requires careful consideration due to a risk of teratogenic effects, adverse side effects and risk of neonatal complications. However, given the effectiveness of lithium, use during the peripartum period may be indicated. AIM: To provide an overview of the current evidence regarding the clinical use of lithium during peripartum, including risk of relapse in case of (dis)continuation and evolution of lithium levels. METHOD: A review was performed in the Medline and ScienceDirect database. RESULTS: Ten studies were included. Six studies concerned the risk of relapse in case of (dis)continuation of lithium during the peripartum. Four studies concerned the evolution of lithium levels throughout the peripartum. Lithium discontinuation during pregnancy leads to an increased risk of relapse during pregnancy and postpartum. At the same dose, lithium levels are lower than preconceptual in all trimesters. CONCLUSION: Risk and benefits of lithium use during the peripartum should be carefully considered, if possible prior to conception. Close monitoring of maternal lithium levels and renal function is necessary due to significant fluctuations during peripartum.

Speciation of organotin in environmental sediment samples.

An optimized sample preparation procedure for organotin speciation in sediment samples has been applied to the analysis of sediments collected in the environment. The method is based on tropolone complexation of the ionic organotins, followed by extraction into a hexane-ethylacetate mixture and derivatization by NaBEt(4). The method was applied to the determination of organotin in various harbour, shipyard and dry-dock sediments in Belgium. Butyltin compounds were detected in all samples analyzed, often at high mg kg(-1) levels. A limited number of samples showed the presence of phenyltin compounds. Further, the method was adapted to the analysis of river sediments sampled from the vicinity of shipyards. Butyltin concentrations were detected at the microg kg(-1) level in the majority of samples.