Effects of chronic lithium treatment on renal function.
BACKGROUND
Lithium treatment is associated with renal side effects which vary from mild nephrogenic diabetes insipidus to end stage renal disease (ESRD). A review of the literature suggests that ESRD is a very rare side effect, caused after very long-term lithium treatment, and that it might be preventable if lithium is stopped early.


METHODS
Sixty-one patients were treated with lithium for a mean of 15.6 years (range 3-32, SD=6.4). Their kidney function was monitored at an Affective Disorders Clinic for a mean of 11.5 years (range 2-29, SD=5.4). We estimated their glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at the end of monitoring. As a control group we used 53 patients who received ECT at our hospital, and had not taken lithium, and nine patients from the same clinic who were taking other mood-stabilisers.


RESULTS
Lithium patients had lower eGFR compared to controls: 66.1 vs. 75.0 mL/min/1.73 m2, p=0.0006 after controlling for age and gender. The percentage of patients with an eGFR<60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (grade 3 chronic kidney disease) was 34.4%, vs. 13.1% in the controls, and was much increased compared to the general population in the respective age ranges. There was a modest but non-significant correlation between the number of years that patients had taken lithium and their eGFR, (beta=-0.177, B=-0.43, p=0.1). One patient reached an eGFR of 28 mL/min/1.73 m2 and her lithium was stopped. One patient required dialysis 6 years after leaving the clinic.


CONCLUSIONS
Lithium causes a modest decline in renal function. However the available research suggests that ESRD is a very rare complication of long-term lithium treatment, affecting ∼1% of patients who have taken lithium for over 15 years.
Tredget
John
J
MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Department of Psychological Medicine and Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, United Kingdom.
Kirov
Anna
A
Kirov
George
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018500:Diabetes Insipidus, Nephrogenic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D003404:Creatinine