Lithium does not alter the renal response to a pressor dose of tyramine in man.

Abstract

Renal clearance of lithium has been used as a marker of proximal tubular function in man. Recently, lithium pre-treatment has been shown to interfere with the natriuretic actions of some natriuretic agents in man. We have therefore investigated the effects of oral lithium carbonate (500 mg) on the natriuretic response to a pressor dose of tyramine (15 ,ug kg-' min-') in six normal volunteers. Lithium had no effect on baseline sodium excretion, nor did it affect the tyramine-induced increase in blood pressure and subsequent natriuresis. These results show that oral lithium carbonate (500 mg) does not appear to interfere with the pressure natriuretic response to tyramine in man.