Attenuation of Myelosuppression with Lithium

To the Editor: Lithium causes granulocytosis by enhancing the production of colony-stimulating activity.¹ Although in previous studies Tisman² and Greco et al.³ suggested that patients receiving repeated courses of combination chemotherapy had less leukopenia with the addition of lithium carbonate, no randomized studies have been described. Ten patients with advanced hormone-resistant prostatic cancer treated with estramustine phosphate, 600 mg per square meter daily, and semustine (methyl-CCNU), 150 mg per square meter on the first day, were randomized to receive lithium carbonate or placebo. The first patients received 300 mg three times per day; later, the dose was reduced because of. No extract is available for articles shorter than 400 words.