• biological markers
• Bipolar disorders
• CRP
• immune system
• inflammation
• tryptophan

The involvement of inflammatory/immune system, and especially alterations of its biochemical markers, has been extensively investigated in mood disorders such as major depression and bipolar disorders and results have shown that the plasma levels of some proinflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins undergo variations depending on the phases of disorder. Although several research studies and reviews about the immunological and metabolic profiles of MDD, and to a lesser extent of BDs, were carried out there is general agreement that, taken together findings appear still inconclusive. Therefore, there is a need of further investigations, aimed at refining the alterations of plasma biomarkers in the different BD phases, the relationship with inflammatory somatic diseases and a more precise personalization of treatments. The present retrospective study aimed at exploring peripheral metabolic and inflammatory parameters in a group of inpatients affected by bipolar disorders, as compared with normative values. The possible relationships between biological parameters and clinical characteristics, blood pressure, body mass index, circumference of patients’ waist and hips, were examined as well.