Open AccessEfficacy of lithium in rheumatoid arthritis with granulocytopenia (felty's syndrome)
Author(s) -
Gupta Ramesh C.,
Robinson William A.,
Smyth Charley J.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780180217
Subject(s) - felty's syndrome , lithium carbonate , medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , lithium (medication) , gastroenterology , liter , basal (medicine) , peripheral blood , absolute neutrophil count , neutropenia , surgery , chemotherapy , chemistry , ion , organic chemistry , ionic bonding , insulin
Lithium carbonate was given orally for 6 weeks in varying doses to 10 patients with Felty's syndrome. All patients receiving 900 mg of lithium daily showed statistically significant elevations in granulocyte count during therapy. The effect was usually noted within a week and did not persist when the drug was withdrawn. The percentage increase in mean absolute granulocyte count varied between 138% and 617% of control value in different patients; the lower values were observed in those patients with basal serum lithium concentrations less than 0.5 mEq/liter. It is concluded that a consistent rise in peripheral blood granulocytes was achieved by lithium carbonate in a dosage of 900 mg daily in patients with Felty's syndrome.