Results of a cohort study found that continuing lithium treatment after an initial diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) may not increase the risk of developing end-stage CKD.
The study included “all individuals in Denmark in a period from 1995 to 2012 with a diagnosis of CKD and (i) a history of lithium treatment (N=754, among whom 238 patients had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder) or (ii) a history of anticonvulsant treatment (N=5,004, among whom 199 patients had a diagnosis of bipolar disorder).” Patients either on chronic dialysis or who underwent renal transplantation were considered to have end-stage CKD.
Results of the study found that continuing lithium therapy was associated with a decreased rate of end-stage CKD (HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.90). Additionally, a decreased rate of end-stage CKD was also seen in patients who continued anticonvulsant therapy (HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.64). The study authors added, “In the subcohorts of patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, continuing lithium was associated with decreased end-stage CKD (HR = 0.40 (95% CI: 0.17-0.98), whereas continuing anticonvulsants was not (HR = 0.70 (95% CI: 0.21-2.37).” No interactions of lithium and anticonvulsants were observed.
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According to results of this study, continuing either lithium or anticonvulsant therapy following an initial diagnosis of CKD may not increase the risk of end-stage CKD development.
