Lithium and thyroid.
Lazarus JH
Centre for Endocrine and Diabetes Sciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4 XN, Wales, UK. lazarus@cf.ac.uk
One in 200 people receive lithium for treatment of bipolar disorder. The common clinical side effects of the drug are goitre in up to 40% and hypothyroidism in about 20%. Lithium increases thyroid autoimmunity if present before therapy. Treatment with levothyroxine is effective and lithium therapy should not be stopped. Lithium may cause hyperthyroidism due to thyroiditis or rarely Graves' disease. As lithium inhibits thyroid hormone release from the thyroid gland it can be used as an adjunct therapy in the management of severe hyperthyroidism. It also increases thyroidal radioiodine retention and may be effective in reducing administered activity in hyperthyroidism. There is no clinical benefit of lithium therapy in thyroid cancer. More research is required on the cellular proliferative effects of lithium as well as its impact on the immune system.
Published 27 November 2009 in Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab, 23(6): 723-33.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).
© 2004-2013 Bipolar Research Today. All Rights Reserved.
| 
