Lithium nephropathy: a case report

Abstract

Although widely used in the management of bipolar disorder, lithium may cause adverse kidney effects. The importance of the present study is to report the case of a 59-year-old woman who was under regular treatment with lithium for bipolar disorder and whose imaging studies demonstrated the presence of multiple renal microcysts, suggesting lithium nephropathy as main diagnostic hypothesis.

Lithium nephropathy: Unique sonographic appearance and application of new on cart tools

“…Although lithium‐induced side effects have been previously well documented, clinical studies have shown that diagnosis of lithium nephropathy is uncommon. A retrospective study revealed that 85% of patients in 14 studies did not demonstrate signs of renal failure and only 0.37% had altered histopathological analysis . The ultrasound changes seen as a result of lithium‐induced nephropathy are also uncommon, having only been reported in a few patients with prolonged lithium therapy (>20 years) …”

“…A retrospective study revealed that 85% of patients in 14 studies did not demonstrate signs of renal failure and only 0.37% had altered histopathological analysis. 3 The ultrasound changes seen as a result of lithium-induced nephropathy are also uncommon, having only been reported in a few patients with prolonged lithium therapy (>20 years). 1 A study by Di Salvo et al 4 described that lithium-induced tubulointerstitial nephritis is characterised histologically by distal tubular microcysts and interstitial fibrosis.…”