Bipolar affective disorder, lithium carbonate and Ca++ ATPase

Erythrocyte membrane Ca++ ATPase levels were investigated in 10 men treated with lithium carbonate for bipolar affective disorder. With regard to Ca++ ATPase activity, which is intimately associated with the active Ca++ transport mechanism of the red cell membrane, it is interesting to note that the Ca++ ATPase activities of bipolar disorder patients were found to be depressed at 2 hours after the administration of lithium. These data are discussed in terms of the physiology of bipolar affective disorder and lithium carbonate.