Lithium for Zidovudine-Induced Neutropenia in AIDS

To the Editor. —  We read with great interest the letter by Herbert et al¹ suggesting that lithium, as a consequence of its granulopoietic properties, may be used to treat neutropenia induced by zidovudine. This assertion raises a number of points with respect to patient treatment.Some support for the recommendations of Herbert et al are found in the data of Stein et al,² who, concerned about the roughly comparable situation of neutropenia that occurs as a direct consequence of cytotoxic chemotherapy and noting that lithium treatment often could elicit a reversible increase in circulating leukocyte counts, advocate the use of lithium to treat neutropenia that occurs under these circumstances. Furthermore, in view of the recognized possibility of thrombocytopenia occurring in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus infection,³ the propensity of lithium to increase circulating platelet numbers⁴ might represent another therapeutic benefit of lithium use in human