Lithium Carbonate Attenuation of Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia

Abstract

The administration of lithium to psychotic patients is associated with leukocytosis.^{1 2 3} Although the mechanism of this leukocytosis is not established, preliminary studies have suggested that the drug increases granulocyte production.^{4 5 6} Clinical evaluation of lithium-induced granulocytosis has been limited.^{7 8 9} In this study we evaluated the ability of lithium to affect the neutropenia associated with cancer chemotherapy.MethodsTwenty patients receiving combination chemotherapy regimens not including corticosteroids entered the study. Patients on low salt diets or diuretics were excluded. The majority of patients had either breast or lung cancer.The experimental design employed each patient as his own control. Cycles on lithium . . .