A Study of Plasma Neurotrophin 4/5 Level as a Biomarker in Bipolar Disorder Patients during Manic Episode

Abstract

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by mood swings involving both manic and depressive symptoms. The absence of confirmed biomarkers for BD results in its diagnosis and management being primarily empirical. Neurotrophin 4/5 (NT-4/5) has garnered attention in mood disorder research due to its involvement in neuronal processes and association with antidepressant effects. Objective: To compare NT 4/5 levels between bipolar disorder cases during manic episodes and a control group, while also exploring correlations between NT4/5 levels and various clinical parameters. Subjects and Methods: The study examined thirty (30) bipolar patients and thirty (30) healthy controls matched for age and sex. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCIDI) confirmed the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, supplemented by assessments using the Young Mania Scale. Plasma NT4/5 levels were measured in both groups. Results: Bipolar patients experiencing manic episodes, whether mild, moderate, or severe, exhibited significantly lower plasma NT-4/5 levels compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Moreover, moderate and severe cases showed notably lower NT 4/5 levels compared to remitted cases (p=0.014, p=0.001 respectively). No significant differences were observed between remitted bipolar cases and controls. Conclusions: Lower NT 4/5 levels were suggested as an independent risk predictor for bipolar disorder development, while higher NT 4/5 levels were suggested as an independent predictor for bipolar disorder remission.