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Biomedical subjects

J W Jefferson

Publications and source records attributed to J W Jefferson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Potassium supplementation in lithium patients: a timely intervention or premature speculation?

BACKGROUND: Preventing and/or treating renal and other complications of long-term lithium therapy remains a challenge to clinicians. A review of studies in animals and anecdotal reports in humans suggests that potassium may have therapeutic value in this regard. METHOD: The Lithium Information Center data base of over 20,000 articles was searched under the title and subject heading of "potassium." Pertinent articles from the 303 references obtained served as the basis for this review. RESULTS: Studies in rats found that dietary potassium supplementation reduced adverse effects of lithium on growth and renal function and morphology. Loss of intracellular potassium may contribute to lithium-induced electrocardiographic ST-T wave changes. Little work has been done in humans to evaluate the potential benefit of potassium supplementation. CONCLUSION: Hypokalemia should be avoided or corrected in patients taking lithium. The role of potassium supplementation in preventing renal and other complications in the presence of normokalemia requires further investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The effect of enalapril on serum lithium levels in healthy men.

BACKGROUND: Several authors have recently described the development of lithium toxicity after the addition of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors to a stable lithium regimen. This pilot study was designed to systematically investigate the effects of enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, on the serum level of lithium. METHOD: In a 26-day outpatient study, nine healthy men took lithium for 10 days, lithium and enalapril for 10 days, and lithium alone again for 6 days. Serum lithium levels were measured while patients were taking lithium alone and while they were taking the lithium/enalapril combination. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between mean serum lithium level during treatment with lithium alone and during treatment with the lithium/enalapril combination. However, one subject showed a 31% increase in serum lithium level after enalapril was added. CONCLUSION: Although no statistically significant differences between mean serum lithium level during treatment either with lithium alone or with lithium/enalapril were found, it is possible that the low dose of enalapril and low serum lithium levels employed for subject safety may have resulted in a type II statistical error. If enalapril doses or initial serum lithium levels were similar to those described in case reports, a significant difference in mean serum lithium levels may have been observed. While a predictable interaction between lithium and enalapril probably does not occur in all patients, factors such as enalapril dose, serum lithium level before addition of enalapril, or the presence of heart disease may make such an interaction more likely. At the levels of lithium and enalapril used in this study, elevated serum lithium concentration does not appear to be a universal event, but physicians must exercise appropriate caution.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Lithium carbonate-induced hypothyroidism. Its many faces.

The correct diagnosis of hypothyroidism can be difficult, especially if it occurs in association with conditions producing similar manifestations. This point is illustrated by the presentation of three cases of lithium carbonate-induced hypothyroidism.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Serum lithium levels and long-term diuretic use.

In normal volunteers whose conditions were stablized with lithium carbonate, there were no significant changes in serum lithium levels during a two-week period while they received 40 mg/day of furosemide. During another two-week period, a 50 mg/day dosage of hydrochlorothiazide did cause a significant rise in serum lithium levels. These observations suggest that a substantial amount of lithium and a loop diuretic may not require modification of the lithium dosage.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

The lithium librarian. An international index.

Lithium salts are being widely used for treatment and prophylaxis of bipolar affective disorder (manic-depressive psychosis) and are under investigation in more than 30 other illnesses. The relevant literature has grown from 43 articles published between 1949 and 1964 to nearly 4,000 today. A computer-based lithium librarian program has been developed that provides an up-to-date registry of all lithium references, rapid search capability, constant availability, and easy transferability to identical computer systems located on three continents. References provided by the system are more complete, more rapidly available, and less costly than references obtained from other bibliographic services. This specific response to the rapidly expanding lithium literature provides a model for comprehensive aquisition and searching of other specialized subjects areas needed by clinicians and researchers.

Computers↗