8 OP Makarova
affected by unmetastasized breast cancer. Conversely, TNF-alpha, but not IL-
6, elevations were detected in metastatic patients.
3. Neuroprotective Agent in Cancer Patients in Order to
Improve Quality of Life by Maintaining the Cognitive Abilities,
Improve Emotional State
Cognitive changes are documented consequence of cancer therapies,
including chemotherapy and radiotherapy [29]. Indeed, the ability to inhibit
cell division, the key element in cancer therapies, causes reduction in
neurogenesis, which is implicated in mood and cognitive disorders. Lithium
carbonate is a mood stabilizer with known neuroprotective activity, a
characteristic that is thought to underpin its therapeutic efficacy [30]. Drug-
induced mental disturbances are frequent in bone marrow transplantation
patients who require numerous kinds of drugs [31]. Lithium carbonate was
effective for the treatment of depressive disorder in a patient with myeloid
leukemia without causing side effects such as renal dysfunction.
COMPLICATIONS AT CLINICAL APPLICATION OF
PREPARATIONS OF LITHIUM
Treatment with lithium salts may be associated with the risk of
development of numerous adverse effects. Lithium drugs often implicated in
hair loss patients. It has been reported that 15 per cent of patients taking
lithium developed hair thinning [32].
Long-term treatment with lithium carbonate (8-40 years) may suppress the
activation of regenerative processes by reducing the number of very-small
embryonic-like stem cells circulating peripheral blood [33].
Glomerular renal dysfunction occurs after an average of 20 years of
continuous lithium treatment, and the severity is related to the total lithium
load as measured by dose and duration. Recently, several reports have
highlighted the relationship between renal microcyst formation and significant
reductions in glomerular filtration rate. The proposed mechanism of microcyst
formation is related to the antiapoptotic effect of lithium [34].
Lithium carbonate induced endocrine complications include: thyroid
dysfunction, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and hyperparathyroidism. It is
described patient who had undergone removal of a parathyroid adenoma and