Gülöksüz, SinanAltınbaş, KürşatAktaş, Çetin E.Kenis, GunterBilgiç Gazioğlu, SemaDeniz, GünnurOs, J. Van2020-11-212020-11-2120120165-0327https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2012.04.044https://hdl.handle.net/11467/3561PubMed ID: 22749155Background: The role of inflammation in bipolar disorder has recently emerged as a potential pathophysiological mechanism. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?) modulation may represent a pathogenic molecular target and a biomarker for staging bipolar disorder. In this context, the possible association between lithium response and TNF-? level was examined. Methods: Sixty euthymic bipolar patients receiving lithium therapy were recruited for assessment of TNF-? level. The ALDA lithium response scale (LRS) was used to evaluate longitudinal lithium response in bipolar patients, using cut-offs of poor response, partial response and good response. TNF-? level was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: There was a significant increase in TNF-? level in patients with poor lithium response compared to those with good response, also after controlling for a range of potential confounders (adjusted effect size: 0.47, p=0.011). Partial response showed a directionally similar, but attenuated and statistically inconclusive association (adjusted effect size: 0.16, p=0.326). Limitations: Assessment of response was retrospective and natural course cannot be separated easily from treatment response in an observational design. Selection of additional inflammatory markers could provide for a better understanding of underlying immune changes. Conclusions: This study strengthens the hypothesis that TNF-? level may mark or mediate lithium response, and that continuous immune imbalance in poor lithium responders may occasion treatment resistance. Further investigation of immune alterations in treatment-resistant bipolar patients may be productive. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessBipolar disorderCytokineInflammationLithiumTreatmentTumor necrosis factorArticle14301.Mar148152Q1WOS:000311213800021Q12-s2.0-848695065122274915510.1016/j.jad.2012.04.044