Key result
Lithium carbonate increases reversible T-wave depression without causing cardiac damage.
Why the study?
The electrocardiographic effects of lithium carbonate treatment in manic-depressive patients were not fully characterized under controlled conditions.
Does lithium carbonate treatment cause electrocardiographic T-wave changes in manic-depressive patients?
RCT (n=6)
Double-blind
Does lithium carbonate treatment cause electrocardiographic T-wave changes in manic-depressive patients?
Lithium carbonate treatment induces consistent, benign, and reversible T-wave depression on ECG without causing myocardial damage.
May prompt ECG monitoring on lithium; small series leaves open clinical relevance.
Serial electrocardiograms were obtained under controlled and bouble-blind conditions before, during, and after lithium carbonate treatment in six manic-depressive patients. A statistically significant increase in the frequency of T-wave depression was observed to occur during lithium carbonate treatment in each patient, but no other ECG changes or serum electrolyte abnormalities were observed. The extent of T-wave depression was not related to sodium intake or to serum lithium ion levels. There was no evidence of cardiac damage as measured by normal serum enzyme studies and circulation times. Slight pretibial edema that occurred was not related to ECG T-wave changes. It is concluded that lithium carbonate treatment has a consistent, but benign and reversible, effect on the myocardium.
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R. G. Demers (1971) conducted an RCT in Manic-depressive illness (n=6). Lithium carbonate vs. Before and after treatment (baseline/off-treatment) was evaluated on Frequency of T-wave depression. Lithium carbonate treatment caused a statistically significant increase in the frequency of benign, reversible T-wave depression, without evidence of cardiac damage.
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