Lithium-induced nephropathy; One medication with multiple side effects: a case report

Lithium carbonate is most commonly used in the treatment of bipolar disorder. According to National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), 17.6% of patients with bipolar disorder in the 2013- 2016 period were treated with lithium [1]. Among multiple organ systems affected by lithium toxicity, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, renal tubular acidosis, and chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy are the most common adverse effects of chronic lithium use in the kidney [2]. Conversely, nephrotic syndrome, defined as proteinuria > 3 g/day, edema, hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia, is a rare and not well-known complication associated with lithium use. In 1973, Duflot and colleagues [3] were the first to identify the association between therapeutic levels of lithium and nephrotic syndrome. Since then, < 30 lithium-induced nephrotic syndrome cases have been reported in the literature [4]. Most of these cases were associated with therapeutic serum lithium levels and there was prompt reversal of nephrotic syndrome upon cessation of lithium therapy [4‐7].

Based on kidney biopsies, 14 of these patients had final diagnosis of minimal change disease and 4 focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Most of the cases reported in the literature developed nephrotic syndrome during the first year of lithium therapy. Here we report a patient, who presented to the clinic with supratherapeutic serum lithium levels, acute on chronic kidney injury, and nephrotic syndrome after 20 years of lithium therapy. A kidney biopsy reveals minimal change disease, acute tubular injury, and evidence of chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy. With 3-month follow-up, the patient’s kidney function has not recovered, and, in our opinion, the synchronous occurrence of lithium-associated minimal change disease and chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy may imply a worse clinical outcome.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is the most common adverse effect associated with lithium therapy and may occur in up to 40% of the patients [2]; however, development of nephrotic syndrome is rare. There are only < 30 lithium-induced nephrotic syndrome cases reported in the literature, and most of these patients develop nephrotic syndrome in the first 1–2 years after initiation of lithium therapy [4‐7]. Of note, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in these patients usually does not fall below 40 ml/min/1.73m². Among the cases reported, majority of the patients had complete reversal of proteinuria upon discontinuation of lithium therapy [4], although this is not the finding observed in the case reported here.

Although disputed in the past, the association between long term use of lithium and chronic kidney disease has been established by a French study [8]. In this study, Presne et. al. concluded that the progression rate of lithium-induced kidney dysfunction is related to the duration of lithium use, and chronic kidney disease is commonly seen in patients treated by lithium for 10–20 years. However, the molecular mechanisms are not well-established, and lithium-induced chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy may be related to increased levels of inactive form of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK- 3β) induced by elevated intracellular lithium concentration in distal tubules/collecting ducts [2]. Morphologically, Markowitz et. al [9]. observed that the most common kidney biopsy findings in the patients with lithium-associated kidney disease are tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis, cystic dilatation of distal tubules/collecting, and secondary segmental and global glomerulosclerosis due to chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy. Furthermore, moderate elevation of the serum creatinine in 2.0 mg/dl range may represent irreversible progression of kidney injury even with prompt withdrawal of lithium therapy, and the initial serum creatinine at the time of biopsy was the only significant predictor of progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The study indicated that only 1out of 10 patients progressed to ESRD with initial serum creatinine at the time of biopsy of < 2.5 mg/dl as compared to 7 of 9 patients progressed to ESRD with > 2.5 mg/dl. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is not a significant predictor of progression.

Subnephrotic range proteinuria, resulted from secondary glomerular damage, is a relatively common adverse effect of chronic lithium use, and it is estimated that up to 42% of patients on lithium may have > 1.0 g/day proteinuria. However, lithium-associated minimal change disease is rare, and the underlying mechanisms are far from clear. As lithium can modulate the phosphoinositol pathway, it is hypothesized that, through this pathway, lithium may activate T lymphocytes to release cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor, resulting in podocyte injury and minimal change disease [7].

Given the clinical presence of supratherapeutic lithium level and nephrotic syndrome, the acute tubular injury in the current case is likely secondary to nephrotic proteinuria. In the setting of nephrotic syndrome, the acute tubular injury may occur due to nephrosarca, which is defined as interstitial edema of kidney parenchyma. The interstitial edema is induced by hypoalbuminemia, and leads to physical obstruction of vasculature and tubules [10]. The novelty of the case reported here is that we see lithium associated minimal change nephropathy, which is a rare side effect of lithium besides its multiple other more common side effects such as diabetes insipidus and interstitial nephritis. As evidenced by the kidney biopsy; the glomeruli showed no proliferative features or segmental sclerosis. Microscopic evaluation of tubules and interstitium revealed mild tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis and was consistent with minimal change disease. Patient’s creatinine continued to worsen along with anasarca despite discontinuation of lithium therapy and steroids treatment. The patient progressed to ESRD requiring hemodialysis and continues to require hemodialysis 3 days a week 6-month after initial diagnosis. As mentioned previously, the risk of ESRD increases when the serum creatinine is > 2.5 mg/dl at the time of kidney biopsy, which was the case in this patient (2.7 mg/dl).

Lithium therapy has been an effective medication in treating bipolar disorder; unfortunately, with its narrow therapeutic range, it is associated with undesirable adverse effects. This case as presented above, although rare, strengthens the association of lithium therapy and nephrotic syndrome. It has been recommended that there is benefit of regular monitoring of patients’ lithium level to prevent chronic kidney disease and progression to ESRD as seen in this patient. Our case provides an example of a unique clinical scenario of lithium-induced minimal change nephropathy along with and chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy. In our opinion, this combination suggests a worse clinical outcome. It is still needed to further confirm this impression from a larger clinical cohort.