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On the Significance of the Erythrocyte Lithium to Plasma Lithium Ratio

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

James L. Marini
James L. Marini*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine & Connecticut Mental Health Center, 34 Park Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06308, USA
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Summary

Correlations between the ratio of erythrocyte to plasma lithium (Le/Lp) and clinical status have been reported by some authors and disputed by others. Examination of the literature on Le/Lp and erythrocyte physiology suggests that Le/Lp is determined by peripheral pharmacokinetic parameters and has no direct relationship to central pathophysiology. Because of this, and because of inconsistencies between studies reporting correlations of the ratio with clinical status, such correlations probably cannot illuminate either the pathophysiology of affective illness or the mode of action of lithium.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 130 , Issue 2 , February 1977 , pp. 139 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists 1977 

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