title: Elevation of choline and glycine in red blood cells of psychiatric patients due to lithium treatment.
abstract: Levels of choline (Ch) and glycine (Gly) were determined in red blood cells (RBC) from psychiatric patients who were either on lithium therapy or lithium-free and normal subjects. Subjects were divided into four groups: normal subjects who have never received Li+; Li+ free affective patients; Li+ free patients with various psychiatric disorders; and affective patients under Li+ treatment. The patient groups included affective, schizophrenic, schizo-affective disorders, as well as patients with organic brain syndrome and Cornelia de Lange syndrome. In general, all patients on therapeutic dosages of Li+ had significantly higher levels of Ch in RBC when compared to Li+ free normals or patients. Glycine levels in RBC were also significantly higher in patients on Li+ compared to normals or Li+ free affective disorder patients. Plasma Ch was significantly elevated in patients receiving Li+. There was an apparently predictable time course between cessation of Li+ therapy and decreases in levels of Ch and Gly in RBC to normal levels; in Ch of approximately 30-40 days, in Gly of less than 6 days. There were no significant differences in Ch between Li+ free patients, irrespective of their disorder, and normal subjects. RBC Gly levels were equivalent between normal subjects and Li+ free patients. These data imply that elevations in Gly and Ch are more a function of Li+ therapy than of psychiatric diagnosis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002794:Choline / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium; D002794:Choline; D005998:Glycine