Table 5 Summary of the results from clinical studies on infant lithium exposure through lactation
Study | Design | Sample size | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|
Schou et al. (1973) | Case series | 8 mother–infant pairs | Infant/maternal serum lithium concentration of 1/2 in first week and 1/3 during the following weeks |
Sykes et al. (1976) | Case report | 1 mother–infant pair | Breast milk lithium level of 1/4 of maternal serum level, infant had good excretion of lithium into urine |
Moretti et al. (2003) | Case series | 11 mother–infant pairs | Infant lithium dose of 0–30% of the maternal dose/kg Infant serum level of 17–50% of maternal serum level |
Case series | 10 mother–infant pairs | Mean infant serum level of 0.16 meq/L (range 0.09–0.25) In four infants: transient elevations of TSH, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine | |
Bogen et al. (2012) | Case series | 3 mothers with 4 infants | Infant lithium levels ranged from 10 to 17% of maternal levels at 1Â month postpartum |
Frew (2015) | Case report | 1 mother–infant pair | Infant/maternal serum lithium concentration ratio of 0.58. No adverse events |