title: Comparison of lithium ratio between African-American and Caucasian bipolar patients.
abstract: Lithium RBC/plasma ratio (LR) was studied in 34 bipolar subjects on therapeutic doses of lithium carbonate. The sample was divided into 22 Caucasians and 12 African-Americans to observe possible ethnic differences in LR as previously reported. The latter group demonstrated a higher LR as well as increased reports of side effects (p < .05), even after controlling previous confounding factors. Our findings suggest that African-Americans may be more susceptible to the side effects associated with lithium treatment, and consequently, lower dosages may be necessary for this group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D044383:Black People; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D016651:Lithium Carbonate