title: Imaging findings of renal toxicity in patients on chronic lithium therapy.
abstract: Lithium salts are the mainstay of treatment of bipolar disorder. However, the therapeutic index of lithium is narrow, and severe side effects may be seen. Nephrotoxicity is the most important side effect, which may progress to chronic renal failure. In this pictorial essay, we present ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging findings of renal toxicity secondary to chronic lithium use. We believe that imaging could be extremely helpful for the evaluation of renal toxicity and may even detect preclinical stages of renal parenchymal injury. A combination of different imaging modalities may help clarify findings detected on one modality.
authors: Division of Abdominal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. alidevrim76@yahoo.com
authors: Ali Devrim
authors: AD
authors: Karaosmanoglu
authors: Selim R
authors: SR
authors: Butros
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Arellano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds