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Bone Side-Effects of Lithium

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Handbook of Lithium Therapy

Abstract

The accumulation of lithium in bone was rediscovered, over 40 years after publication of the report of Degrez and Meunier, during studies to investigate the effects of lithium on magnesium and calcium metabolism2. Lithium appears in bone at a higher concentration than in any other tissue with the possible exception of thyroid gland and in localized areas of the kidney3. The exact location of lithium in bone has not been determined, though kinetic studies4,5 suggest that 40% is found in the hydration spheres of bone mineral (bone water) while 60% is tightly bound in the mineral and the bone matrix.

‘Il resuite de ces faits que Li existe dans le tissue osseux et dans les dents à l’état de phosphate; tandis que Sr existe à l’état de carbonate.... ’ A. Degrez and J. Meunier, 19271

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References

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Birch, N.J. (1980). Bone Side-Effects of Lithium. In: Johnson, F.N. (eds) Handbook of Lithium Therapy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7197-7_40

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-7197-7_40

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-7199-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-7197-7

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