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Changes in red blood cell choline and choline-bound lipids with oral lithium
B L Miller1, K M Lin, A Djenderedjian
1Dept. of Neurology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance 90509.
Experientia
|May 15, 1990
Abstract:
The influence of oral lithium on the concentration of red blood cell choline (Ch), lecithin, glycerophosphorylcholine (GPCh) and phosphorylcholine (PCh) was studied. The concentration of RBC Ch was significantly elevated and the concentration of lecithin, GPCh and PCh significantly depressed in 16 patients on oral lithium compared to 9 age-matched controls. We conclude that lithium markedly depletes the red blood cell of choline containing compounds including lecithin. These changes may be responsible for both the therapeutic efficacy and the toxicity of lithium.