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. 2014 Mar 26;9(3):e90169.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090169. eCollection 2014.

Renal failure in lithium-treated bipolar disorder: a retrospective cohort study

Helen Close  1 , Joe Reilly  2 , James M Mason  1 , Mukesh Kripalani  3 , Douglas Wilson  1 , John Main  4 , A Pali S Hungin  5
Affiliations

Renal failure in lithium-treated bipolar disorder: a retrospective cohort study

Helen Close et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: Lithium users are offered routine renal monitoring but few studies have quantified the risk to renal health. The aim of this study was to assess the association between use of lithium carbonate and incidence of renal failure in patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) and a nested validation study of lithium exposure and renal failure. A cohort of 6360 participants aged over 18 years had a first recorded diagnosis of bipolar disorder between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2007. Data were examined from electronic primary care records from 418 general practices across the UK. The primary outcome was the hazard ratio for renal failure in participants exposed to lithium carbonate as compared with non-users of lithium, adjusting for age, gender, co-morbidities, and poly-pharmacy.

Results: Ever use of lithium was associated with a hazard ratio for renal failure of 2.5 (95% confidence interval 1.6 to 4.0) adjusted for known renal risk factors. Absolute risk was age dependent, with patients of 50 years or older at particular risk of renal failure: Number Needed to Harm (NNH) was 44 (21 to 150).

Conclusions: Lithium is associated with an increased risk of renal failure, particularly among the older age group. The absolute risk of renal failure associated with lithium use remains small.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: APSH was a member of the Independent Scientific Committee for the General Practice Research Database for the duration of the study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flowchart of study participants.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Renal failure survival curves for younger and older lithium and non-lithium users.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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