Lithium in Acute Kidney Injury

A growing body of pre-clinical evidence suggests that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSKβ) is implicated in the development and progression of acute kidney injury (AKI). Lithium is a naturally occurring standard inhibitor of GSKβ. The purpose of this study is to examined if low dose lithium carbonate is able to reduce the incidence of AKI in patients undergoing cardiac surgery who are placed on cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery. We hypothesize that low dose lithium might reduce the incidence and duration of AKI in patients undergoing cardiac surgery who are on cardiopulmonary bypass.