Lithium carbonate and leukocytosis

White blood cell (WBC) counts of 37 hospitalized adult psychiatric patients were examined for changes during treatment with lithium carbonate. Group 1 (n = 19) patients had WBC counts taken before and after lithium therapy. Group 2 (n = 16) patients had WBC counts taken only after lithium therapy. The remaining two patients had infections and were considered separately. In Group 1, a significant leukocytosis was observed over baseline values (p less than 0.001). The mean increase in WBC count was 2,237 cells/cu mm. For Group 2 patients, the mean WBC count observed was 11,950 +/- 4,028 cells/cu mm, which is higher than the normal leukocyte count in peripheral blood. An increase in circulating leukocytes was observed in the majority of these patients. The data indicate that the leukocytosis was drug related, but the increase did not appear to be dose related or dependent on the concentration of lithium in the blood.