Publication:

Levels of serum lithium in manic depressive patients with mild persistent bronchial asthma

Background Lithium, widely used in manic depressive (MD) patients, might protect the airways against constrictor stimuli in bronchial asthma (BA), through its effects on cell signal transduction and ion transport pathways.

Methods Serum lithium levels were studied in MD patients with better controlled mild persistent BA (group A) and MD patients with not so well controlled BA (group B).

Results Serum lithium levels were highly significantly more in group A compared to lithium levels in group B.

Conclusions Lithium may inhibit the contractile response of airway smooth muscle and can be used in treatment / monitoring of BA.