[Extramembranous glomerulonephritis induced by lithium]

We report the case of a patient who developed a nephrotic syndrome after lithium carbonate therapy. The nephrotic syndrome disappeared after withdrawal of therapy and recurred when the patient was rechallenged with the same drug. This seems a convincing argument to believe that lithium was the causal agent. Renal biopsy specimens showed membranous nephropathy, suggesting that immune-complex formation was involved in the reaction to the drug. Membranous nephropathy is an exceptional and benign hazard during lithium therapy, and underlines the need for periodic urinalysis in patients treated with the drug.