Beneficial effect of lithium in female patient with bipolar affective illness and psoriasis

Abstract

Objectives. Psoriasis makes a relative contraindication for lithium treatment which can exacerbate its symptoms or induce it itself. On the other hand, lithium exerts immuno-modulatory activity. Case study. In this paper, a case of a female patient is presented. The patient has been treated since 2012 for bipolar affective illness (bipolar disorder – BD) and psori­asis, which occurred for the first time during a depress­ive episode. Despite intensive pharmacological treatment, both as inpatient and outpatient, a satisfactory improvement of affective illness has not been obtained. After the introduction of lithium, a remission of BD was achieved as well as a reduction of psoriatic changes, which have been maintained until now (2021). Conclusion. The remission of Bipolar Disorder (BD) on lithium can suggest that the patient belongs to the group of the so-called excellent lithium responders. In the presen­ted case remission of psoriasis was observed during lithium treatment. This case report must be treated with caution because remission could be spontaneous and the patient needs further observation.