RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: High uric acid level is related to increased locomotor activities and refractory mood swings. The purpose of this study is to examine the correlation between clinical symptoms of mania, serum uric acid level, and quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) findings. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with bipolar disorder and 24 healthy control subjects agreed to participate in the study. When they were hospitalized, the degree of clinical symptoms, uric acid level in blood, and brain QEEG were measured. RESULTS: The bipolar disorder group showed higher scores on the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS ; z=6.02, p<0.05). Patients in their manic episodes showed higher plasma uric acid levels (4.9+/-1.3 mg/dL) than healthy control subjects (4.2+/-0.9 mg/dL ; z=2.14, p<0.05). Uric acid levels showed correlation with severity of manic symptoms as assessed using the YMRS in all participants (rho=0.28, p<0.05). The bipolar disorder group showed decreased relative delta and alpha activity in the fronto-temporo-occipital region compared to the control group (p<0.05). Relative beta in Fp1 (frontopolar), Cz (central mid-line), and Pz (parietal mid-line) and relative gamma in Fp1 were increased in the bipolar disorder group, relative to the control group (p<0.05). The relative beta (rho=0.47, p<0.05) and gamma (rho=0.41, p<0.05) in Fp1 electrodes showed positive correlation with the YMRS scores. CONCLUSION: Adenosinergic transmission dysfunction may lead to occurrence of manic symptoms, considering that a key role of central nervous system adenosinergic receptors is to inhibit the release of various neurotransmitters and limit neuronal excitability. In addition, QEEG appeared to indicate excitatory neuro-modulation in manic patients.