title: Renal function during long-term lithium treatment: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of lithium treatment on renal function have been previously shown, albeit with discrepancies regarding their relevance. In this study, we examined glomerular filtration rate in patients treated with lithium for up to 33 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  All lithium patients registered from 1980 to 2012 at a Lithium Clinic were screened. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated from serum creatinine concentration using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Group equation. A cross-sectional evaluation of the last available eGFR of 953 patients was carried out using multivariate regression analysis for gender, current age, and duration of lithium treatment. Survival analysis was subsequently applied to calculate the time on lithium needed to enter the eGFR ranges 45 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m² (G3a) or 30 to 44 mL/min/1.73 m² (G3b). Finally, 4-year follow-up of eGFR was examined in subgroups of patients who, after reduction to an eGFR lower than 45 mL/min/1.73 m² either i) continued lithium at the same therapeutic range or ii) discontinued lithium or continued at concentrations below the therapeutic range (0.5 mmol/L).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the cross-sectional evaluation, eGFR was found to be lower in women (by 3.47 mL/min/1.73 m²), in older patients (0.73 mL/min/1.73 m² per year of age), and in patients with longer lithium treatment (0.73 mL/min/1.73 m² per year). Half of the patients treated for longer than 20 years had an eGFR lower than 60 mL/min/1.73 m². The median time on lithium taken to enter G3a or G3b was 25 years (95% CI, 23.2-26.9) and 31 years (95% CI, 26.6-35.4), respectively. Progression of renal failure throughout the 4-year follow-up after a reduction to an eGFR lower than 45 mL/min/1.73 m² did not differ between the subgroup who continued lithium as before and the subgroup who either discontinued lithium or continued at concentrations below the therapeutic range.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Duration of lithium treatment is to be added to advancing age as a risk factor for reduced glomerular filtration rate. However, renal dysfunction tends to appear after decades of treatment and to progress slowly and irrespective of lithium continuation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Ospedale 54, Cagliari 09124, Italy. bocchett@unica.it.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bocchetta
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ardau
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fanni
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sardu
authors.forename: Doloretta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pani
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Zompo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008094:Lithium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008094:Lithium; D003404:Creatinine