Inflammation associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in bipolar disorder: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research 2023-10, Vol.173, p.111465-111465, Article 111465
• Main Authors: Tsai, Shang-Ying, Chen, Pao-Huan, Hsiao, Cheng-Yi, Sajatovic, Martha, Huang, Yu-Jui, Chung, Kuo-Hsuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bipolar disorder; Echocardiography; Heart failure; Inflammation; Interleukin-8 (IL-8); Left ventricular hypertrophy; sTNF-R1
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111465

Inflammation has received increasing attention as a contributor to the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) and cardiac hypertrophy into heart failure (HF). Accordingly, we chose BD-related inflammatory markers to investigate their relationships with cardiac left ventricular function and structure in BD. Sixty physically healthy and euthymic patients with bipolar I disorder were recruited to compare with 50 healthy normal controls. The echocardiography was performed to estimate left ventricular mass index (LVMI) as a parameter of LV hypertrophy (LVH) and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) as a parameter of systolic function. An LVEF above the normal range (>70%) was defined as a hyperdynamic heart. Participants' levels of inflammatory and atherosclerosis-related parameters were measured. Compared with normal controls, BD group had significantly higher rates of LVH (63% vs. 42%) and hyperdynamic heart (32% vs. 2%) and higher mean values of LVMI and LVEF. After adjustment for the effects of BMI and age, multiple regression analyses of BD group showed that the peripheral level of interleukin-8 was positively associated with LVMI and the level of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1) was positively associated with LVEF. Patients with BD from young adulthood are likely to have LVH with normal LV function and hyperdynamic heart associated with diastolic dysfunction. Low-grade inflammation may underlie the mechanisms of LV hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction in BD patients. •Physically healthy and young bipolar patients are more likely to have left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction.•Low-grade inflammation may underlie the mechanisms of LVH and hyperdynamic heart in BD.•Diastolic heart failure in the early life of bipolar disorder needs further investigation.