Imaging findings of renal toxicity in patients on chronic lithium therapy.

Abstract

Lithium salts are the mainstay of treatment of bipolar disorder. However, the therapeutic index of lithium is narrow, and severe side effects may be seen. Nephrotoxicity is the most important side effect, which may progress to chronic renal failure. In this pictorial essay, we present ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging findings of renal toxicity secondary to chronic lithium use. We believe that imaging could be extremely helpful for the evaluation of renal toxicity and may even detect preclinical stages of renal parenchymal injury. A combination of different imaging modalities may help clarify findings detected on one modality.

• Authors: Ali Devrim Karaosmanoglu, Selim R Butros, Ronald Arellano
• Journal: Diagnostic and interventional radiology (Ankara, Turkey) (Diagn Interv Radiol) 2013 Jul-Aug Vol. 19 Issue 4 Pg. 299-303 ISSN: 1305-3612 [Electronic] Turkey
• PMID: 23439253 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antimanic Agents
• Lithium Compounds

Topics

• Adult
• Antimanic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Bipolar Disorder (drug therapy)
• Chronic Disease
• Diagnostic Imaging (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Kidney (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Kidney Failure, Chronic (chemically induced, diagnosis)
• Lithium Compounds (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed (methods)
• Ultrasonography