Based on the finding that lithium carbonate administration can stimulate leukocyte production, six patients were treated with neuroleptic and other drug-induced granulocytopenia with lithium carbonate. The average total leukocyte count of 2500/mm3 increased to 4566/mm3. Similarly the average neutrophil count of 1028/mm3 increased to 2893/mm3 after lithium therapy. In all six patients, neutrophils decreased upon discontinuation of lithium. On the other hand, total WBC count of 4566/mm3 decreased to 2650/mm3, and the total neutrophil count of 2893/mm3 decreased to 966/mm3 after four weeks without lithium. The results suggest that lithium carbonate is effective in the treatment of drug-induced leukopenia.
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