Blood cell indices in affective patients during lithium prophylaxis

Hematological indices including lymphocyte subsets were assessed in 35 euthymic affective patients receiving lithium for 1 month to 24 years, in 12 euthymic affective patients receiving fluoxetine for 6-18 months, and in 13 drug-free patients during depressive episode. No differences in erythrocyte status between these three groups of patients were observed. Patients on lithium prophylaxis had significantly increased number of total leukocytes and neutrophils compared with two remaining groups, as well as a higher number of lymphocytes compared with fluoxetine subjects. Lithium patients had also significantly greater number of T4 and B lymphocytes than patients receiving fluoxetine. In lithium patients, the number of B lymphocytes was significantly higher in those given the drug for more than 2 years. The results obtained point to favourable quantitative changes in granulocytes, lymphocytes T and lymphocytes B during prophylactic lithium treatment. This is discussed in relation to a suggested immunomodulatory lithium effect on some infections.