CHANGES IN PLASMA VOLUME AFTER POSITIVE INTRAVENOUS LOADS OF LITHIUM CHLORIDE

Lithium ions are rapidly distributed throughout body water after their intravenous infusion into dogs. Despite the greater relative hydration of the lithium ion compared to that of the sodium ion, lithium loads fail to expand plasma volume. Indeed, such loads were uniformly associated with a reduction in plasma volume. The reduction in plasma volume incident to the intravenous infusion of solutions of lithium chloride is attributed to the loss of extracellular water which accompanies the lithium ions entering cells. © 1969.