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Electrolyte metabolism in patients with periodic affective disorders during treatment with rubidium

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Abstract

Five patients suffering from periodic affective disorders with short mood-cycles were treated with rubidium chloride, producing peak erythrocyte concentrations between 9 and 13 mmol/l. Loading with rubidium was associated with decreased total body potassium, but red-cell potassium was unchanged. Regular mood-cycling was disturbed, together with the associated body-weight changes. There was a slight extracellular “metabolic” acidosis. Electrolyte concentrations fluctuate abnormally in these patients, and two muscle biopsy specimens had very low potassium contents.

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Author notes

  1. F. A. Jenner

    Present address: Royal Hallamshire Hospital, University Department of Psychiatry, S10 2JF, Sheffield, S. Yorks, UK

  2. C. R. Lee

    Present address: L.E.R.S.-Synthelabo, 31, av. P.V. Couturier, F-92220, Bagneux, France

  3. C. Paschalis

    Present address: Department of Neurology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Council Unit for Metabolic Studies in Psychiatry, Sheffield, UK

    F. A. Jenner, C. R. Lee, C. Paschalis, S. E. Hill & G. Jennings

  2. Department of Medical Physics, the General Infirmary, LS1 3EX, Leeds, UK

    L. Burkinshaw

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  1. F. A. Jenner
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  2. C. R. Lee
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  3. C. Paschalis
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  4. S. E. Hill
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  5. L. Burkinshaw
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  6. G. Jennings
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Jenner, F.A., Lee, C.R., Paschalis, C. et al. Electrolyte metabolism in patients with periodic affective disorders during treatment with rubidium. Psychopharmacology 81, 301–309 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427567

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427567

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