[Minimal change disease during lithium therapy: case report]

G Ital Nefrol. 2019 Jul 24;36(4):2019-vol4.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Lithium is a largely used and effective therapy in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Its toxic effects on kidneys are mostly diabetes insipidus, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and tubulointerstitial nephritis. Also, a correlation between lithium and minimal change disease has sometimes been described. We report here the case of a patient with severe bipolar disorder on lithium therapy who, without any pre-existing nephropathy, developed nephrotic syndrome and AKI with histopathologic findings pointing to minimal change disease. The patient was treated with symptomatic therapy; the discontinuation of lithium therapy resulted in the remission of AKI and of the nephrotic syndrome, thus suggesting a close relationship between lithium and minimal change disease.

Keywords: lithium; minimal change disease; nephrotic syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / chemically induced
  • Antimanic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Bipolar Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Lithium Compounds / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nephrosis, Lipoid / chemically induced*
  • Nephrosis, Lipoid / pathology
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / chemically induced*
  • Withholding Treatment

Substances

  • Antimanic Agents
  • Lithium Compounds