title: Lithium-induced nephropathies.
abstract: Lithium, an alkali metal, remains the gold-standard of the pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder. Over the past decades, the potential of lithium to cause renal damage has been an issue of debate. Polyuria, polydipsia, and, to a lesser degree, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus are frequently observed under treatment with lithium. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreases progressively in a smaller proportion of subjects after several years of treatment with lithium. An even smaller number of patients continue to develop renal insufficiency, ultimately leading to hemodialysis in a small minority of subjects exposed to lithium. So far, no tests exist to identify subjects at risk of lithium-induced nephropathy at an early stage. Therefore, regular monitoring of creatinine and creatinine clearance are recommended in all subjects taking lithium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. traedler@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Raedler
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003401:Creatine / Q000097:blood*; D018500:Diabetes Insipidus, Nephrogenic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds; D003401:Creatine