A possible indication for red cell lithium determinations: a case report

The recommended prophylactic lithium levels in the treatment of manic depressive patients differ from study to study. In this paper, we present a patient who was maintained euthymic on lower plasma levels than those recommended. However, we theorize that the reason for this may be due to the fact that she had a high RBC/plasma ratio. We recommend that in those patients whose plasma lithium levels are consistently low, this point should be kept in mind before considering them as noncompliant.