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Association of lithium treatment with cardiac structure and circulating leukocyte distribution in patients with

Pao-Huan Chen1, Cheng-Yi Hsiao2, Shuo-Ju Chiang3

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Psychiatric Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Journal of Affective Disorders
|November 24, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Lithium treatment in bipolar disorder (BD) patients is associated with reduced left ventricular (LV) concentricity and LV relative wall thickness (RWT). This suggests lithium may protect cardiac function by regulating leukocytes, potentially lowering heart failure risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Psychiatry
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Lithium's anti-inflammatory properties may protect cardiac function in bipolar disorder (BD).
  • Complete blood count (CBC) reflects inflammation and cardiovascular disease risk.
  • This study examines lithium's impact on cardiac geometry and CBC in BD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the association between lithium treatment and left ventricular (LV) geometric patterns.
  • Explore the relationship between lithium use, LV geometry, and complete blood count (CBC) indices in BD patients.

Main Methods:

  • 108 euthymic BD-I patients (58 on lithium) underwent echocardiography and CBC.
  • LV concentricity was categorized as remodeling or hypertrophy.
  • Echocardiographic analysis followed American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging guidelines.

Main Results:

  • 60% of patients had LV concentricity; lithium users had lower prevalence (48.3%) vs. non-users (72.0%).
  • Lithium users showed lower LV relative wall thickness (RWT), lymphocyte counts, and higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio.
  • Lithium exposure, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio negatively correlated with LV RWT.

Conclusions:

  • Lithium may reduce heart failure risk in BD by decreasing LV concentricity and RWT via leukocyte regulation.
  • Findings suggest lithium's cardioprotective effects in BD patients.
  • Future research should include leukocyte dynamics markers to confirm these findings.
Abstract

Keywords:
Anti-inflammationCardioprotectionLeft ventricular wall thicknessLithiumMonocyte–lymphocyte ratioNeutrophil–lymphocyte ratio

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