title: Evaluation of parathyroid function and mineral metabolism in psychiatric patients using lithium salts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate parathyroid function and mineral metabolism in psychiatric patients users of lithium salts.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the serum levels of calcium, ionized calcium, inorganic phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), urea, creatinine, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and lithium of 35 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder in use of lithium carbonate (LC) for at least one year (Lithium Group - LG) and 35 healthy subjects (Control Group - CG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LG and CG were matched by sex and age. There was only statistic difference in relation to the levels of PTH and ionized calcium, with p < 0.004 and p < 0.03, respectively. Secondary form of hyperparathyroidism (HPT) was found in eight (22.8%) LG patients and in none of the CG. There was no correlation between lithemia, usage time and dosage of LC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrate that lithium may create an imbalance in the parathyroid axis, characterized by elevated levels of PTH.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Costa de
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departament of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ivo Alves de
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Campos Neto
authors.affiliation: Departament of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manuel Hermínio de
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Aguiar-Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departament of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco de Assis
authors.initials: Fde A
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000175:diagnosis; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism*; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018020:Lithium Compounds; D008903:Minerals; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014807:Vitamin D; D010758:Phosphorus; D014508:Urea; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D003404:Creatinine; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium