Nitric Oxide and Asymmetrical Dimethylarginine Levels in Acute Mania

Abstract

Nitric oxide and asymmetrical dimethylarginine levels in acute mania Objective: Changes in NO synthesis have been shown in studies regarding NO function in mood disorders, schizophrenia, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder and Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study was to compare plasma NO and simultaneous plasma ADMA levels of bipolar patients in acute mania with healthy controls. Methods: A group of 30 patients experiencing a manic episode and diagnosed as having bipolar disorder according to the DSM-IV TR criteria were included in the study. The healthy control group consisted of the same number of age and sex-matched individuals with a similar smoking status. The SCID-I, Hamilton Depression Scale, Young Mania Scale, and Montgomery Asberg Assessment Scale were used to evaluate clinical condition and to exclude any concurrent mental disorders in both groups. Two tubes of blood were collected from all participants to examine plasma NO and ADMA levels. Results: Plasma NO levels of patients were found to be significantly lower, whereas the ADMA levels were significantly higher than the control group. Conclusions: The results of this study can contribute to a better understanding of the role of inflammatory processes in acute mania in relation to NO and ADMA, which are suspected to be involved in the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric disorders.