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Antibodies to the glutamate receptor in mania
Author(s) -
Dickerson Faith,
Stallings Cassie,
Vaughan Crystal,
Origoni Andrea,
Khushalani Sunil,
Yolken Robert
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
bipolar disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1399-5618
pISSN - 1398-5647
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2012.01028.x
Subject(s) - mania , glutamatergic , antibody , nmda receptor , glutamate receptor , bipolar disorder , psychology , medicine , psychiatry , receptor , immunology , lithium (medication)
Dickerson F, Stallings C, Vaughan C, Origoni A, Khushalani S, Yolken R. Antibodies to the glutamate receptor in mania. Bipolar Disord 2012: 14: 547–553. © 2012 The Authors.Journal compilation © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Background: There is evidence that the glutamatergic system is involved in the pathophysiology of mania. Antibodies to the NR2 subunits of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor have been shown to adversely affect glutamate functioning. Methods: We measured serum antibodies to the NR2 peptide of the NMDA receptor in 60 individuals with different subtypes of mania, including schizoaffective cases, who were assessed at up to three time points. We also measured these antibodies in 295 individuals in other psychiatric groups and in 170 non‐psychiatric controls. NR2 antibody levels were compared among groups by multivariate analyses and within the mania group by repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Individuals with mania had increased levels of antibodies to the NR2 peptide compared to levels in non‐psychiatric controls when measured at the time of admission ( t = 2.99, p = 0.003) and the time of evaluation ( t = 2.57, p = 0.010), but not at follow‐up six months later. The levels of antibodies in individuals in other psychiatric groups did not differ significantly from the levels measured in the control population. Within the mania group, there was a significant decrease in antibody levels over the three time points of the study ( F = 5.4, df = 2, p = 0.0067). Conclusions: NR2 antibodies are elevated during the acute phase of mania but not at follow‐up. Our findings support a role for antibodies to the NMDA receptor in the pathogenesis of acute mania.