Serum uric acid levels and different phases of illness in bipolar I patients treated with lithium.

Recent findings support the role of purinergic system dysfunction in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD). The present study aimed to evaluate the pattern of serum uric acid levels in a sample of 98 BD I patients followed-up prospectively in a naturalistic study and treated with lithium monotherapy or in association with other mood stabilizers (valproate or carbamazepine), in relation to different phases of illness and to pharmacological treatment. The results showed that uric acid levels were significantly higher in patients suffering from a manic/mixed episode, than in those euthymic or during a depressive phase.

Prescribing patterns of lithium or lithium+valproate in manic or mixed episodes: a naturalistic study.

The present study aimed to identify the prescribing patterns of lithium or of lithium+valproate in 75 bipolar I outpatients in a manic or a mixed phase within a naturalistic setting. The differences between the two treatments and the correlation between serum lithium levels and response were also examined. The results showed that patients with lithium levels of 0.

[Long-term treatment of bipolar disorder: how should we use lithium salts?].

Unlabelled: Despite the great quantity of evidence supporting the efficacy of lithium in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder (BD), its use has often been limited because of issues about the management of this compound. W aimed to evaluate the use of lithium in common clinical practice and to identify possible relationships between the trend over time of serum lithium levels and clinical course of the illness.

Methods: 98 patients with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder (DSM-IV-TR) on maintenance treatment with lithium salts were recruited and followed up in a naturalistic trial at the Day Hospital of Psychiatric Clinic of Pisa.