THE EFFECTS OF PROLONGED LITHIUM EXPOSURE ON THE IMMUNE-SYSTEM OF NORMAL CONTROL SUBJECTS - SERIAL SERUM-SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR ANDANTITHYROID ANTIBODY MEASUREMENTS

The purpose of this study was to begin evaluating the effects of lithi um carbonate on in vivo immune function in normal controls. We, postul ated that lithium carbonate would stimulate lymphocytes but would not affect the production of antithyroid antibodies. Twenty-seven normal c ontrols had blood samples drawn for measurements of serum soluble inte rleukin-2 receptors (SIL-2Rs), antithyroglobulin antibodies, and antim icrosomal antibodies prior to and after approximately 1 and 4 weeks of treatment with lithium carbonate at therapeutic blood levels. Subject s had a small brat statistically significant increase in serum SIL-2Rs after 4 weeks of lithium treatment (446.3 +/- 177.2 U/ml versus 497.6 +/- 232.3 U/ml, p = 0.033). There was no increase in the prevalence o f antithyroglobulin or antimicrosomal antibodies with lithium treatmen t nor did lithium act as an adjuvant to increase the titers in subject s with preexisting antithyroid antibodies.