ABSTRACT
The recently reported abnormal in vitro haemolysis from catecholamine metabolites in schizophrenia was tested. We did not find the postulated increase in haemolysis, though the exchange of plasma for Ringer solution renders some patients' erythrocytes more susceptible to the effects of adrenochrome. The possibility of a subgroup of schizophrenia with a defect in membrane stability is discussed.
Subject(s)
Adrenochrome/pharmacology , Hemolysis/drug effects , Schizophrenia/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Erythrocytes/drug effects , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The lithium blood level 24 hrs after a priming dose of lithium is a prognosticator for the therapeutic dosage required. Exactly 24 hrs following the intake of 24 mval lithium (lithium carbonate, retard form) venous blood serum is analyzed for lithium content. The necessary therapeutic dose can be inferred from a regression line which shows the negative interrelation between the 24 hr value and the therapeutic quantity of lithium necessary to achieve a blood level of 0.9 mval/1 under steady state conditions. Low 24 hr levels require high maintenance doses and vice versa. This procedure shortens the time of dose adjustment and avoids undesirable side-effects in the beginning of treatment which otherwise are not seldom the cause for the cessation of lithium intake.
