Renal Function in Patients on Lithium Treatment

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Abstract
Summary: A cross-sectional study was performed on 66 lithium-treated patients to investigate a possibly changed kidney function, using [51Cr]-EDTA clearance, and urinary excretions of albumin and β2-microglobulin. Thirteen patients showed abnormal test results: seven had decreased glomerular filtration rate, four had increased albumin excretion and four had increased excretion of β2-microglobulin. There was no correlation between length of treatment with lithium or hypothyroidism (10 patients) and impaired renal function. Four patients had already manifested signs of renal dysfunction before lithium treatment. The high prevalence of impaired renal function among our patients is unexplained but lithium could be one possible cause.