Effect of Lithium on Neutrophil Mass and Production

Abstract

We measured the effect of lithium on the blood neutrophil mass and neutrophil production, using standard di-isopropylfluorophosphate (DF³²P) methods. In 12 lithium-treated patients the total blood neutrophil pool was 105 (42 to 270) X 10⁷ cells per kilogram (median and 95 per cent limits) as compared with 61 (27 to 138) X 10⁷ in 71 controls (P7 cells per kilogram per day in the lithium-treated group and 160 (62 to 400) X 10⁷ in the controls (P5 cells per day in the lithium-treated patients, as compared with 1.7 to 68 X 10⁵ in 10 controls. Lithium causes enlargement of the total circulating neutrophil mass and accelerates neutrophil production without impairing neutrophil migration into skin lesions. (N Engl J Med 298:178–180, 1978)