We sought to establish the prevalence of lithium-induced end-stage renal disease in two regions of Sweden with 2.7 million inhabitants corresponding to about 30% of the Swedish population. Eighteen patients with lithium-induced end-stage renal disease were identified among the 3369 patients in the general lithium-treated population, representing a sixfold increase in prevalence compared with the general population for renal replacement therapy. All lithium-treated patients were older than 46 years at end-stage renal disease with a mean lithium treatment time of 23 years with ten patients having discontinued lithium treatment an average of 10 years before the start of renal replacement therapy. The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (defined as plasma creatinine over 150 micromol/l) in the general lithium-treated population was about 1.2% (excluding patients on renal replacement therapy). Compared with lithium-treated patients without renal failure, those with chronic kidney disease were older and most were men but, as groups, their mean serum lithium levels and psychiatric diagnoses did not differ. We found that end-stage renal disease is an uncommon but not rare consequence of long-term lithium treatment and is more prevalent than previously thought. Time on lithium was the only identified risk factor in this study, suggesting that regular monitoring of renal function in these patients is mandatory.

Background: There is strong biologic plausibility to support change in albuminuria as a surrogate endpoint for progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but empirical evidence to supports its validity in epidemiologic studies is lacking. Methods: We analyzed 28 cohorts including 693,816 individuals (80% with diabetes) and 7,461 end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) events, defined as initiation of kidney replacement therapy. Percent change in albuminuria was quantified during a baseline period of 1, 2 and 3 years using linear regression. Associations with subsequent ESKD were quantified using Cox regression in Coresh et al.

The use of CRRT is associated with better renal recovery than IHD, but mortality does not differ between the groups.

Although initiating RRT on PD was associated with favourable patient survival when compared with starting on HD treatment, PD was often not selected as initial dialysis modality. Over time, we observed a significant decline in PD use and a stabilization in HD use. These observations were explained by the lower incidence rate of PD and HD and the increase in pre-emptive transplantation.

Sweden) Relation between renal function, presentation, use of therapies and in-hospital complications in acute coronary syndrome: data from the SWEDE-HEART register. J Intern Med 2010; 268: 40-49.Objective. To examine clinical characteristics, presenting symptoms, use of therapy and in-hospital complications in relation to renal function in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).Design. Observational study. Subjects. Consecutive MI patients with available creatinine (n = 57 477).Results. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated with the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study formula. With declining renal function patients were older, had more co-morbidities and more often used cardio-protective medication on admission. Compared to patients with normal renal function, fewer with renal failure presented with chest pain (90% vs. 67%, P < 0.001), Killip I (89% vs. 58%, P < 0.001) and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (41% vs. 22%, P < 0.001). In a logistic regression model lower renal function was independently associated with a less frequent use of anticoagulant and revascularization in non-ST-elevation MI. The likelihood of receiving reperfusion therapy for STEMI was similar in patients with normal-to-moderate renal dysfunction, but decreased in severe renal dysfunction or renal failure. Reperfusion therapy shifted from primary percutaneous coronary intervention in 71% of patients with normal renal function to fibrinolysis in 58% of those with renal failure. Renal function was associated with a higher rate of complications and an exponential increase in in-hospital mortality from 2.5% to 24.2% across the renal function groups.Conclusion. Renal insufficiency influences the presentation and reduces the likelihood of receiving treatment according to current guidelines. Short-term prognosis remains poor.