The course of nitric oxide and superoxide dismutase during treatment of bipolar depressive episode.
OBJECTIVE
Studies have already pointed out a possible pathophysiological role of oxidative and antioxidative molecules in bipolar disorder. We aimed to evaluate the activity and levels of antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD), and oxidant nitric oxide (NO), in bipolar I depressive episode (BD-DE) patients in a prospective design.


METHODS
30 BD-DE patients, diagnosed according to DSM IV, and 30 healthy volunteer controls were included. The serum levels of NO and SOD have been studied when admitted to hospital (1st) and on the 30th days. Clinical outcome was measured by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D). The patients were allowed to have their treatments. One patient was dropped out due to insufficient sampling.


RESULTS
As in the previous studies, NO 1st day levels were significantly higher in patients and SOD 1st day activity was significantly low (p<0.01). NO levels significantly decreased (p<0.01) and normalized, as SOD activity significantly increased but did not reach to the controls' levels (p<0.01) on the 30th day.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite normalized NO levels, persistent low SOD activity might point out an oxidative imbalance in BD-DE. Chronic low SOD activity may be associated with incapacity of coping with oxidative stress. This research connotes the probable oxidative imbalance in BD-DE and discusses that phenomenon within the continuum of the disease state.
Selek
Salih
S
Department of Psychiatry, Sahinbey Research Hospital, Medical Faculty of Gaziantep University, Turkey.
Savas
Haluk A
HA
Gergerlioglu
H Serdar
HS
Bulbul
Feridun
F
Uz
Efkan
E
Yumru
Mehmet
M
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D016877:Oxidants / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D016877:Oxidants; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase