A longitudinal assessment of renal function during treatment with lithium.
Renal function was studied during lithium treatment in 28 patients on two occasions separated by a mean interval of 4.7 years. Glomerular filtration rate, assessed by creatinine clearance and serum creatinine concentrations, showed no impairment. Albumin excretion rate, a marker of glomerular permeability, showed no consistent change. In contrast, a decline in urine concentrating ability (mean 140 mOsm/kg) was found in all patients, exceeding the reduction to be expected from ageing in all but three. These results support the view that treatment with lithium long-term does not damage renal glomerular function, but that progressive impairment of the distal tubular responsiveness to arginine vasopressin is common.
Waller
D G
DG
Clinical Pharmacology Group, Southampton General Hospital.
Edwards
J G
JG
Papasthatis-Papayanni
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D008094:Lithium