Serum uric acid levels in first episode mania, effect on clinical presentation and treatment response: Data from a...

Bipolar disorder (BD) patients have increased serum Uric Acid (UA) levels as compared to their healthy counterparts. They also demonstrate higher impulsivity - while symptomatic, as well as when in remission. Impulsivity adds a risk of self-harming behavior to BD, and studies show that it increases with UA levels. Given this complex relationship, the current project aimed at comparing UA levels in first-episode mania patients with matched controls, and analyzes its relationship with impulsivity, symptom severity and disease prognosis. Thirty-one first-episode mania patients were assessed on BIS-11 and YMRS, serum uric acid levels were measured, and compared to matched controls. A follow up YMRS was rated after one month to evaluate the effects of treatment. We found significantly higher levels of UA in patients, which showed positive correlation with impulsivity and a negative correlation with symptom improvement at 1 month. The results of the study support a purinergic system dysfunction hypothesis in first-episode mania, and suggest its influence on impulsivity in this patient group. Further, the mentioned dysfunction appears to have a negative impact on treatment outcomes in such cases.