Effect of Lithium Carbonate on the Neutropenia Caused by Chemotherapy: A Preliminary Clinical Trial

Abstract

Lithium carbonate (L_i2 CO₃) increases circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and perhaps granulopoiesis in man. 25 patients with advanced malignancies ingested L_i2CO₃ during a cycle of intermittent combination chemotherapy. Weekly hemoglobin, platelet, total white blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte counts in the evaluable patients were not significantly different from cycles before and after the L_i2CO₃ cycles. However, the mean absolute PMN nadir while on L_i2CO₃ was 26 % and 40 % higher than the control cycles before and after L_i2CO₃ respectively. When compared individually, the PMN nadirs were significantly higher during the cycle with L_i2CO₃, than before (p = .05) or after (p = .05). The clinical and biological significance of this observation is presently unclear.