Because there have been reports suggesting that patients who receive
lithium are at risk for renal damage, the authors carried out extensive
noninvasive testing of renal function in 43 patients who had been taking
lithium for from 1 to 120 months. Their only abnormal finding was that the
urine concentrating ability of these patients was moderately but
asymptomatically impaired. They suggest that although patients receiving
lithium should be carefully evaluated and tested, there is not enough
evidence to justify not initiating or continuing lithium use in patients
who might benefit from it.
Abstract Teaser