title: Urinary excretion of albumin and retinol-binding protein in lithium-treated patients: a longitudinal study.
abstract: The urinary excretion of albumin and retinol-binding protein was determined by means of sensitive immunochemical methods in a 2-year longitudinal study of 22 lithium-treated patients. During lithium treatment, there were no significant changes in the median albumin:creatinine ratios or retinol-binding protein:creatinine ratios. However, the median albumin:creatinine ratios were significantly higher in lithium-treated patients than in 22 normal subjects, which indicates that glomerular permeability is increased; no correlation with serum lithium level or duration of lithium treatment could be shown. In patients treated with slow-release tablets, the urinary excretion of albumin was significantly higher after 2 years than in patients given lithium carbonate. The median retinol-binding protein:creatinine ratios did not differ significantly between lithium-treated patients and normal subjects, suggesting that lithium does not affect the catabolism of low-molecular-weight proteins in the proximal tubules. In conclusion, the study supports the hypothesis that lithium treatment produces a small but significant and nonprogressive elevation of the urinary excretion of albumin.
authors.affiliation: Department D, Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hemmingsen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aggernaes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D016651:Lithium Carbonate