Kidney function in patients with affective disorders with and without lithium therapy

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Psychiatry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Affective disorders are associated with changes in renal function.
• Lithium is a common treatment for affective disorders.
• The effect of lithium on renal concentrating ability requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and compare the urine concentrating ability in healthy volunteers, patients with affective disorders not on lithium, and patients treated with lithium.
• To determine if lithium therapy progressively affects renal concentrating capacity over time.

Main Methods:

• Urine concentrating ability was estimated in three groups: healthy volunteers, treatment-naive patients with affective disorders, and lithium-treated patients.
• A subgroup of lithium-treated patients underwent repeat testing after a 6-month interval.

Main Results:

• Patients with affective disorders (not on lithium) exhibited significantly lower urine concentrating capacity than healthy volunteers.
• Lithium-treated patients demonstrated markedly reduced concentrating capacity compared to both healthy volunteers and treatment-naive patients.
• A progressive decline in urine concentrating capacity was observed in lithium-treated patients over a 6-month period.

Conclusions:

• Affective disorders itself may impair renal concentrating ability.
• Lithium therapy significantly exacerbates this impairment.
• Long-term lithium treatment can lead to a progressive decrease in urine concentrating capacity, underscoring the need for monitoring renal function.