What an endocrinologist should know for patients receiving lithium therapy.

Lithium is an efficient treatment of bipolar disorder. Besides renal insufficiency, many endocrine side effects are described such as the occurrence of thyroid disorders, hypercalcaemia and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Lithium inhibits the secretion of thyroid hormones. The prevalence of goiter is 4 times more common in Lithium-treated patients compared as to the general population. Hypothyroidism (8-20%) is more frequent in women and in case of pre-existing thyroid autoimmunity. Grave's disease and other hyperthyroidisms are sometimes reported. Lithium stimulates the proliferation of parathyroid cells by activating the Wnt pathway. An increase in serum calcium and PTH is described in patients treated with Lithium with a 4 to 6-fold higher risk of primary hyperparathyroidism than in the general population. Nevertheless, 24-hour urine calcium is not often increased, and the phenotype can mimic a hypercalcemia-hypocalciuria syndrome that may regress with Lithium discontinuation. Surgery should be cautious since parathyroid hyperplasia is more common than parathyroid adenoma. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is frequently reported and may be debilitating, sometimes intricated with severe dehydration, hypernatremia, and acute renal insufficiency. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is not generally reversible after Lithium discontinuation, especially in patients who have chronic kidney disease due to interstitial tubule nephritis. In conclusion, clinical assessment (goiter, diuresis) and biological monitoring of serum calcium, sodium creatinine, TSH and lithium are recommended in patients receiving Lithium therapy. The risk of Lithium discontinuation in case of side effects should be weighed against the psychological risk, and must be discussed with the psychiatrist.

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