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Association between lithium use and thyrotoxicosis caused by silent thyroiditis.
1Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Clinical Endocrinology
|October 27, 2001
Summary
Lithium use is associated with a higher incidence of silent thyroiditis and thyrotoxicosis. This study found increased odds of lithium exposure in patients with silent thyroiditis, suggesting a potential link.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
- Thyroidology
Background:
- Lithium is a common treatment for bipolar disorder.
- Thyroid dysfunction is a known side effect of lithium therapy.
- Silent thyroiditis and thyrotoxicosis are thyroid conditions that can occur with lithium use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of silent thyroiditis in lithium users.
- To characterize lithium-associated thyrotoxicosis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective record review of 400 patients undergoing radioiodine scanning.
- Comparison of lithium exposure odds between patients with silent thyroiditis and Graves' disease.
Main Results:
- Patients with silent thyroiditis had a 4.7-fold increased odds of lithium exposure compared to Graves' disease patients.
- Lithium-associated silent thyroiditis incidence: ~1.3 cases/1000 person-years.
- Lithium-associated thyrotoxicosis incidence: ~2.7 cases/1000 person-years, higher than general population rates.
Conclusions:
- Thyrotoxicosis caused by silent thyroiditis may be associated with lithium use.
- Lithium therapy may increase the risk of developing silent thyroiditis and subsequent thyrotoxicosis.
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