Renal lithium excretion in man.

THOMSEN, KLAUS, AND MOGENS SCHOU. Renal lithium excretion k man. Am. J. Physiol. 215(4): 823-827. 1968.--Renal clearances of creatinine, lithium, sodium, and potassium were determined in six healthy human subjects. Lithium excretion was not significantly affected by water diuresis or the administration of furosemide, bendroflumethiazide, ethacrynic acid, ammonium chloride, spironolactone, or potassium chloride. Sodium-poor diet led to decrease and extra dietary sodium chloride to increase of lithium excretion; the changes took place relatively slowly. Osmotic diuresis (urea) and the administration of sodium bicarbonate, acetazolamide, and aminophylline all produced significant increase of lithium excretion. Lithium ions seem to be reabsorbed mainly in the proximal tubules. The observations may form the basis of a procedure for active treatment of lithium poisoning.