Acute and Long-term Overall Severity of Bipolar Disorder Related to Sicam-1 and Svcam-1 Serum Levels in Bipolar Depression

Abstract

Introduction Interplay between nervous and immune systems plays an important part in clinical presentation and course of affective disorders. Aims The aim of the study has been to assess the relation between soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), in acute and remission phase of bipolar depression, in regard to acute and long-term measures of overall severity of the bipolar disorder. Methods The study has explored serum levels of sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 in 43 patients with bipolar depression. The adhesion molecules’ levels of patient group have been analyzed in acute and remission phases, in regard to bipolarity index (BPIX) and in regard to global functioning (measured by Global Assesment of Functioning Scale- GAF) Results The acute serum levels of sICAM-1 have been associated to BPIX. Moreover, sVCAM-1 serum selevels have been associated to BPIX in both phases of the disorder. In addition, acute sVCAM-1 levels have been associted to GAF score in accute phase. Conclusions Our results suggest that cellular adhesion is an important factor in clinical presentation and overall severity of bipolar disorder.