title: Nephrotic syndrome and renal insufficiency associated with lithium therapy.
abstract: Although the therapeutic administration of lithium in the psychiatric setting has been associated with various renal side effects, only a few reported cases have suggested a possible link to glomerular disease. We report two patients who, while taking lithium, developed heavy proteinuria caused by minimal change disease and acute renal insufficiency attributable to acute tubular necrosis. These clinical findings resolved on discontinuation of the drug, suggesting a role for lithium in their development. We also postulate that lithium, with its unique properties as a modulator of the phosphoinositol pathway, may play a key role in the pathogenesis of minimal change disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwieger
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007683:Kidney Tubular Necrosis, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009402:Nephrosis, Lipoid / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000139:chemically induced; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D010716:Phosphatidylinositols; D008094:Lithium