Correlazione tra markers infiammatori e trattamento con antipsicotici atipici in pazienti affetti da disturbo bipolare

The main aim of this study was to give evidences that the drugs used in the treatment of BD patients can have anti-inflammatory properties. We have longitudinally investigated in 50 BD patients the clinical outcome during six week of treatment and the effects of the drug on inflammatory markers such as CRP and ERS. In addition, in 15 patients, on the basis of the recent data of literature showing a typical anti-inflammatory pattern of quetiapine, we have additionally investigated their ability to affects plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines. A cohort of 50 BD patients were consecutively enrolled at the psychiatric unit of the Cantonal Clinic (Ticino, CH). All patients were visited three times: at each visit, all the subjects were evaluated both for clinical conditions by using clinical psychopathological scales and for biochemical parameters with complete blood formula and PRC and ERS levels. In the subgroup of 15 patients enrolled from October 2017 to May 2018 (same inclusion and exclusion criteria), we have additionally evaluated plasma levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ, and IL-10. We found a significant reduction only for CRP. In the group of 15 patients, the levels of IL-6 were dramatically reduced at all visit time and reached the statistical values for the Δ T2-T0. A direct correlation was found between clinical response and CRP plasma levels after 6 weeks of treatment. The main finding of the present study is that, antipsychotic drugs, in addition to the ability to improve clinical outcome in BP patients, are also able to profoundly affect inflammatory markers.