Find in Library

<p>Lithium (Li) has been associated with several forms of renal injury, the most prevalent being impaired urinary concentrating ability, which is reported in individuals on chronic lithium therapy. Lithium is the most common drug implicated in acquired nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI). Prevalence of NDI correlates with the Li dose and the duration of therapy. Here we report an elderly male, presented with hypotonic polyuria while being on prolonged Li therapy for more than 20 years for bipolar affective disorder. Further evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of Li induced NDI as the aetiology for polyuria which responded to Li dose reduction and Thiazide therapy. Proper evaluation of a patient presenting with hypotonic polyuria with water deprivation followed by a desmopressin challenge is necessary before diagnosis, as therapy differs according to the type of the disease. Usually the concentration defect is at least partially reversible with drug discontinuation. Amiloride minimizes lithium accumulation in collecting tubule cells and is recommended for those patients, in whom Lithium therapy cannot be discontinued.</p><p>Sri Lanka Journal of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism 2015; 5: 34-37</p>