Hypercalcemia caused by lithium medication in a female patient with a bipolar affective disorder
Mudde, A.H.; Kok, R.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 137(49): 2549-2551
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 8272143 Document Number: 408939
In a 68-year-old woman, who used lithium carbonate because of longstanding recurring depression, an association was found between hypercalcaemia and the use of lithium. The serum calcium concentration appeared to be significantly correlated with the serum lithium concentration (y = 2.38 + 0.37x; r = 0.36; p = 0.009). There was a significant inverse correlation between the ratio of 24-hour urinary calcium and creatinine excretion and the serum lithium concentration (y = 0.80 - 0.22x; r = 0.43; p = 0.030). The association of hypercalcaemia and use of lithium has been reported before. The finding may be due to an effect of lithium on the parthyroids and (or) on the kidneys.