RENAL-FUNCTION STUDY IN 30 PATIENTS ON LONG-TERM LITHIUM-THERAPY

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 12  (6) , 254-262
Abstract
Patients [30] on long-term Li therapy were studied. Urinary concentrating ability after H2O deprivation and intranasal vasopressin administration, the simultaneous determination of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), the minimal urine pH after an oral dose of ammonium chloride, and the urinary .beta.-2-microglobulin excretion were evaluated. Mean urine concentration (.+-. SE of the mean) after 22 h water deprivation (= Uosm) amounted to 854 .+-. 22 mOsm/kg H2O, mean GFR was 101 .+-. 4 ml/min, mean ERPF 360 .+-. 18 ml/min and mean minimal urine pH 4.95 .+-. 0.06. In 8 out of 30 patients there was polyuria. In these 8 patients the values were 778 .+-. 51 mOsm/kg H2O, 113 .+-. 6 ml/min, 415 .+-. 33 ml/min and 4.99 .+-. 0.08, respectively. Serum levels of .beta.-2-microglobulin and lysozyme and the urinary excretion of .beta.-2-microglobulin were normal in all patients. No correlation was established between Uosm and the serum Li concentration during the test (0.8 .+-. 0.05 mM) or between Uosm and the average serum Li level during treatment (0.79 .+-. 0.03). GFR was only correlated with age. Administration of indomethacin during the concentration test increased Uosm in these patients. Given proper dosage and surveillance, long-term treatment with Li is not likely to cause disturbances in renal function.

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