Abstract
Despite the widespread use of lithium for bipolar disorders and depression, little is known about the characteristics of patients with lithium-associated kidney failure receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT). We conducted a retrospective study using the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA) to investigate the predictors and outcomes of patients with lithium-associated kidney failure receiving KRT. A total of 437 patients with lithium-associated kidney failure were compared to 1280 ANZDATA allocated controls of patients with kidney failure not associated with lithium. Patients with lithium-associated kidney failure commenced KRT at significantly older age (62 ± 10 vs. 58 ± 15 years; P< 0.001) and were more likely to be European (93% vs. 68%, P< 0.001), to be female (63% vs. 40%, P< 0.001), and to live in a postcode with a higher socioeconomic status (SES) (P< 0.001). In patients with lithium-associated kidney failure, there were lower rates of coronary artery disease (17% vs. 37%, P< 0.001), peripheral vascular disease (7% vs. 25%, P< 0.001), cerebrovascular disease (8% vs. 14%, P= 0.004) and diabetes mellitus (16% vs. 47%, P< 0.001). There were no differences between first KRT modality, although kidney transplantation and retransplantation rates were lower (21% vs. 27%, P= 0.008; 0.2% vs 3%, P= 0.001) with shorter wait-times to first transplantation (20 months vs. 29 months, P= 0.02) in the patients with lithium-associated kidney failure. Rates of at least 1 rejection episode was comparable (21% vs. 22%, P= 0.85) between the 2 groups. In addition, there were no survival differences regardless of KRT modality between the 2 groups. Lithium-associated kidney failure represents a unique cohort which is predominantly older, female, European, with a higher SES and less comorbidities. Despite this, there are no differences in survival. Given the lower rate of transplantation, barriers to transplantation need further exploration.
Published Version (Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.