P01-20 - Affective Disorder and Polycythaemia Vera

Abstract

Objective

This case is a presentation of three siblings diagnosed as affective disorder with polycythaemia vera during the episodes. Polycythaemia dissappearing with the remission of affective disorder is focus of attention of these cases.

Method and results

First sister is 28 years old, single, treated for manic and subclinic depressive episodes for almost ten years. Polycythaemia vera has been developed with beginning of every manic episode and disappeared with the remission of episode. The patient made venopunction of 500cc weekly during the manic episode. Second brother is 26 years old, single, polycythaemia and psychotic depression were developed rapidly after a stressful life event. Venopunction was made for four times during one month medication. Polycythaemia and depression remitted at the same time. Third brother is 24 years old, single, polycythaemia and nonpsychotic depression were developed after his brother's depression. Venopunction was made for three times during three weeks of treatment. Again polycythaemia and depression remitted at the same time.

Conclusion

The siblings had no internal disease. Only first sister was on lithium treatment, 600mg/day for chronic affective disorder but her first polycythaemia attack was prior to lithium treatment. We found only one report upon the relationship between affective disorder and polycythaemia vera in which mania, delirium and polycythaemia rubra vera were documented. #Freeman MP, Wiegand C, Gelenberg AJLithium. İn Textbook of Psychopharmacology. Third Edition. Schatzberg AF, Nemenoff CB (editors) American Psychiatric Publishing, Washington DC. 2004, 547-565.