title: Renal pathology associated with lithium therapy.
abstract: Renal biopsies have been examined in patients either currently (50 patients) or previously (5 patients) on maintenance lithium therapy for severe affective disorders. In patients currently taking lithium, a distinctive lesion of the distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts was identified. This lesion consisted of vacuolation and swelling of the cytoplasm with accumulations of PAS positive material; this material was confirmed to be particulate glycogen by light and ultrastructural techniques. This 'lithium-associated' lesion was not present in patients who had discontinued lithium therapy. Prospective studies showed that the accumulation of glycogen occurs in distal tubules and collecting ducts within days of commencing lithium treatment. The relationship of this distinctive lesion to the patchy focal cortical interstitial fibrosis seen in these biopsies remains to be elucidated.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000188:drug therapy; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007686:Kidney Tubules, Distal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006003:Glycogen; D008094:Lithium