Effect of lithium carbonate on the neutropenia caused by chemotherapy: a preliminary clinical trial

Lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) increases circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and perhaps granulopoiesis in man. 25 patients with advanced malignancies ingested Li2CO3 during a cycle of intermittent combination chemotherapy. Weekly hemoglobin, platelet, total white blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte counts in the evaluable patients were not significantly different from cycles before and after the Li2CO3 cycles. However, the mean absolute PMN nadir while on Li2CO3 was 26% and 40% higher than the control cycles before and after Li2CO3 respectively. When compared individually, the PMN nadirs were significantly higher during the cycle with Li2CO3, than before (p = .05) or after (p = .05). The clinical and biological significance of this observation is presently unclear.