Long-term effects of lithium on renal, thyroid, and parathyroid function: a retrospective analysis of laboratory data.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Lithium is a widely used and highly effective treatment for mood disorders, but causes poorly characterised adverse effects in kidney and endocrine systems. We aimed to analyse laboratory information system data to determine the incidence of renal, thyroid, and parathyroid dysfunction associated with lithium use.

METHODS:

In a retrospective analysis of laboratory data from Oxford University Hospitals National Health Service Trust (Oxfordshire, UK), we investigated the incidence of renal, thyroid, and parathyroid dysfunction in patients (aged ≥18 years) who had at least two creatinine, thyrotropin, calcium, glycated haemoglobin, or lithium measurements between Oct 1, 1982, and March 31, 2014, compared with controls who had not had lithium measurements taken. We used survival analysis and Cox regression to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for each event with lithium use, age, sex, and diabetes as covariates.

FINDINGS:

Adjusting for age, sex, and diabetes, presence of lithium in serum was associated with an increased risk of stage three chronic kidney disease (HR 1·93, 95% CI 1·76-2·12; p<0·0001), hypothyroidism (2·31, 2·05-2·60; p<0·0001), and raised total serum calcium concentration (1·43, 1·21-1·69; p<0·0001), but not with hyperthyroidism (1·22, 0·96-1·55; p=0·1010) or raised adjusted calcium concentration (1·08, 0·88-1·34; p=0·4602). Women were at greater risk of development of renal and thyroid disorders than were men, with younger women at higher risk than older women. The adverse effects occurred early in treatment (HR <1 for length of treatment with lithium). Higher than median lithium concentrations were associated with increased risk of all adverse outcomes.

INTERPRETATION:

Lithium treatment is associated with a decline in renal function, hypothyroidism, and hypercalcaemia. Women younger than 60 years and people with lithium concentrations higher than median are at greatest risk. Because lithium remains a treatment of choice for bipolar disorder, patients need baseline measures of renal, thyroid, and parathyroid function and regular long-term monitoring.

FUNDING:

None.

• Authors: Brian Shine, Rebecca F McKnight, Laurence Leaver, John R Geddes
• Journal: Lancet (London, England) (Lancet) Vol. 386 Issue 9992 Pg. 461-8 (Aug 01 2015) ISSN: 1474-547X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26003379 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Shine et al. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY-NC-ND. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antimanic Agents
• Lithium Compounds

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antimanic Agents (adverse effects)
• Bipolar Disorder (drug therapy, epidemiology)
• England (epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Kidney Diseases (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Lithium Compounds (adverse effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Parathyroid Diseases (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Thyroid Diseases (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Treatment Outcome