Lithium transport in red cells of patients with affective disorders.
Variation in red cell Li+ transport as mediated by the Li+-Na+ exchange pathway (Li+-Na+ counterflow) appears to cause wide variation between psychiatric patients in the Li+ ratio (erythrocyte/plasma) in vivo during Li+ treatment. We obtained significant correlations between Li+ ratios determined in vivo and several measures of Li+ transport as mediated by Li+-Na+ exchange. Patients with bipolar illness had significantly lower rates of Li+ transport as mediated by this pathway than did normal subjects.
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008094:Lithium / Q000097:blood*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
D008094:Lithium; D012964:Sodium