Successful lithium carbonate treatment for steroid-induced depression following bone marrow transplantation: a case report

Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2003 Oct;33(10):538-40. doi: 10.1093/jjco/hyg097.

Abstract

Drug-induced mental disturbances are frequent in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) patients who require numerous kinds of drugs. Although steroid-induced mental disorder is common in BMT settings, its treatment has not been fully investigated. We encountered a patient with acute myeloid leukemia who developed depressive disorder induced by steroid given for graft-versus-host disease treatment. Lithium carbonate was effective for the treatment of depressive disorder without causing side effects such as renal dysfunction. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of lithium carbonate for the treatment of depressive disorder induced by steroids in BMT settings.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Depressive Disorder / chemically induced
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / therapy*
  • Lithium Carbonate / therapeutic use*
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy
  • Prednisolone / adverse effects*
  • Transplantation Conditioning
  • Whole-Body Irradiation

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Lithium Carbonate
  • Prednisolone