JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL REGULATORS & HOMEOSTATIC AGENTS Vol. 22, no. 3, 195-200 (2008) 0393-974X (2008) Copyright © by BIOLIFE, s.a.s. This publication and/or article is for individual use only and may not be further reproduced without written permission from the copyright holder. Unauthorized reproduction may result in inancial and other penalties 195 EVALUATION OF PLASMA ANTIOXIDANT LEVELS DURING DIFFERENT PHASES OF ILLNESS IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER D. DE BERARDIS 1-2 , C.M. CONTI 1-3 , D. CAMPANELLA 1-2 , A. CARANO 1-4 , B. DI GIUSEPPE 2 , A. VALCHERA 5 , L. TANCREDI 5 , N. SERRONI 2 , A.M. PIZZORNO 2 , M. FULCHERI 3 , F. GAMBI 1 , G. SEPEDE 1 , F.S. MOSCHETTA 2 , R.M. SALERNO 1 and F.M. FERRO 1 1 Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Chieti; 2 Department of Mental Health, ASL, Teramo; 3 Department of Psychology, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Chieti; 4 Department of Mental Health, ASUR Marche 8, Civitanova Marche; 5 ”San Giuseppe” Psychiatric Clinic, Ascoli Piceno, Italy Received April 2, 2008 - Accepted July 21, 2008 The aim of the present study is to evaluate role of plasma antioxidants (albumin, bilirubin and uric acid) in patients suffering from type I Bipolar Disorder (BD-I) during different phases of illness: acute mania, euthymia and bipolar depression. Medical records of consecutive 110 BD-I patients (38 patients with acute mania, 35 in euthymic state, full remission, and 37 in depressive phase) were reviewed to evaluate plasma antioxidant levels. Laboratory data of 40 healthy controls were also obtained. The scores of Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Bech-Rafaelsen Manic Rating Scale (BRMRS) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) were evaluated. Serum uric acid levels were higher in acute mania than other patient subgroups and healthy controls. Serum uric acid levels directly correlated with BRMRS and YMRS scores. No differences were found between clinical groups during different phases and healthy controls concerning albumin and bilirubin. In conclusion, the results of the present study support the notion that serum uric acid levels may be higher in patients with BP-I (especially during manic phases) which may suggest a dysregulation of the purinergic system. However, limitations should be considered and further studies are needed. It is well known that oxidative stress may play a core role in several medical illnesses and in some neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease (1-2) . Bipolar disorder aflicts approximately 2% of the world population and remains a leading worldwide cause of disability, morbidity and mortality. While its precise aetiologies are unknown, bipolar illness is characterised by its recurrent and episodic nature involving disturbances of mood, sleep, behaviour, perception and cognition (2). Bipolar Disorder I (BD-I) is characterised by the occurrence of one or more manic episodes or mixed episodes, often accompanied by one or more major depressive episodes (4). Some studies suggest that mood disorders are accompanied by an acute phase protein response and a change in cholesterol levels (5-7), but, to Mailing address: Domenico De Berardis, MD, PhD. Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, Scuole di Specializzazione, Palazzina SE.BI. via dei Vestini, 31 66013 Chieti (Italy) Tel: ++3908713556750 Fax: ++3908713556721 e-mail: dodebera@aliceposta.it Key words: uric acid, albumin, bilirubin, antioxidants, bipolar disorder, mania, depression, euthymia, control subjects