PLATELET-SPECIFIC PROTEINS IN LITHIUM-CARBONATE TREATMENT

We have determined the levels of plasma beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4) and the platelet count of 50 manic-depres sive patients under lithium treatment and of 30 healthy people. There was no significant difference between the platelet count of the patien ts and that of the control group. However, when the patient group was classified according to the duration of treatment with lithium, the pl atelet count of patients treated for less than 1 year (322.7 +/- 80.1 x 10(3)/mm(3)) was significantly higher than that of those treated for 1 to 5 years and more than 5 years (263.2 +/- 71.8 x 10(3)/mm(3) and 212.4 +/- 24.1 x 10(3)/mm(3) respectively). The beta-TG and PF4 levels of the patients were significantly higher than those of the control g roup but there was no correlation between these levels and the duratio n of the treatment. beta-TG and PF4 are considered as useful markers o f platelet activation. Therefore our findings suggest that lithium tre atment affectss the functions of platelets. (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.