title: Variability of brain lithium levels during maintenance treatment: a magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.
abstract: In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to determine the relationship between serum and brain lithium levels in bipolar patients (n=25). Over the broad range of serum lithium levels observed, the correlation (r=.68) with brain lithium levels was high. This correlation was much weaker (r=.39) when limited to only those patients with serum lithium levels in the range of 0.6-1.0 mmol/l. This variability may account for failure of lithium prophylaxis in some patients who have serum lithium levels in the therapeutic range.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Bipolar Research Program, Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Renshaw
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lafer
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016651:Lithium Carbonate