Lithium and hematology: established and proposed uses.
Lithium (as lithium carbonate) is an inexpensive drug, widely used in psychiatry for over 50 years in treatment of mood instability (bipolar disorder) and as an adjunct to antidepressants. Hematological effects of neutrophilia and increased circulating CD34+ cells of marrow origin have long been known. Lithium was at the center of hematological investigations in the 1980s, but no definitive use in hematology has yet emerged. We review evidence that lithium increases G-CSF and augments G-CSF effects. We suggest possible therapeutic uses of lithium in neutropenia. In bone marrow transplantation, preharvest lithium-assisted hematopoietic stem cell mobilization may be useful as well.
Focosi
Daniele
D
Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Chiara, University of Pisa, via Roma 56, 56100 Pisa, Italy. dfocosi@tin.it
Azzarà
Antonio
A
Kast
Richard Eric
RE
Carulli
Giovanni
G
Petrini
Mario
M
D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization / Q000379:methods; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016651:Lithium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018692:Antimanic Agents; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016651:Lithium Carbonate