Plasma-free and sulfoconjugated MHPG in major depressive disorders: differences between responders to treatment and nonresponders.

Abstract

The plasma levels of free and sulfoconjugated forms of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) were examined before and after treatment in 16 patients with unipolar major depressive disorders without melancholia. The patients were treated with intravenous administration of clomipramine for 4 weeks. Seven depressive disorder patients who showed marked improvement (the improvement group) revealed significant reduction in their plasma sulfoconjugated MHPG levels. In 6 depressive disorder patients who showed no improvement (the no-improvement group), the plasma sulfoconjugated MHPG levels showed no significant change after treatment. The remaining 3 patients, who showed ambiguous change after treatment, were excluded from the analysis. Levels of plasma-free MHPG showed significant change after treatment in neither the improvement group nor in the no-improvement group. It is suggested that levels of plasma sulfoconjugated MHPG may serve as an indicator of brain noradrenergic activity.

• Authors: K Mine, M Okada, N Mishima, M Fujiwara, T Nakagawa
• Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry) Vol. 34 Issue 9 Pg. 654-60 (Nov 01 1993) ISSN: 0006-3223 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8292695 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol sulfate
• Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol
• Clomipramine
• Norepinephrine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Clomipramine (administration & dosage)
• Depressive Disorder (blood, drug therapy, psychology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Humans
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Male
• Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol (analogs & derivatives, blood)
• Middle Aged
• Norepinephrine (blood)
• Personality Inventory
• Treatment Outcome