title: The effects of prolonged lithium exposure on the immune system of normal control subjects: serial serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor and antithyroid antibody measurements.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to begin evaluating the effects of lithium carbonate on in vivo immune function in normal controls. We postulated that lithium carbonate would stimulate lymphocytes but would not affect the production of antithyroid antibodies. Twenty-seven normal controls had blood samples drawn for measurements of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptors (SIL-2Rs), antithyroglobulin antibodies, and antimicrosomal antibodies prior to and after approximately 1 and 4 weeks of treatment with lithium carbonate at therapeutic blood levels. Subjects had a small but statistically significant increase in serum SIL-2Rs after 4 weeks of lithium treatment (446.3 +/- 177.2 U/ml versus 497.6 +/- 232.3 U/ml, p = 0.033). There was no increase in the prevalence of antithyroglobulin or antimicrosomal antibodies with lithium treatment nor did lithium act as an adjuvant to increase the titers in subjects with preexisting antithyroid antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla 92093-0655.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rapaport
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Risinger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manji
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; C056626:thyroid microsomal antibodies; D016651:Lithium Carbonate