Long-term lithium treatment and thyroid antibodies: a controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
Because the role of thyroid autoimmunity in the development of lithium-induced thyroid dysfunction remains controversial, we compared the prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in patients with affective disorders receiving long-term lithium maintenance therapy with that of age- and sex-matched controls.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study with 100 adult patients with major affective disorders diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, revised (DSM-III-R), who were undergoing lithium therapy for 6 months or more at a specialized lithium university clinic and 100 age- and sex-matched controls with no history of an axis I psychiatric disorder. Serum autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb), thyroglobulin (TgAb) and TSH receptors (TRAb) were measured.


RESULTS
TPOAb were found in 7 patients and 11 controls, and TgAb were found in 8 patients and 15 controls. TRAb were not found in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample of patients with affective disorders, long-term lithium treatment did not increase the prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity.
Baethge
Christopher
C
Department of Psychiatry, Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Program, Harvard Medical School, McLean Division of Massachusetts General Hospital, Belmont, Mass., USA.
Blumentritt
Holger
H
Berghöfer
Anne
A
Bschor
Tom
T
Glenn
Tasha
T
Adli
Mazda
M
Schlattmann
Peter
P
Bauer
Michael
M
Finke
Reinhard
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000209:etiology; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D008094:Lithium