Changes of Nitric Oxide and Peroxynitrite Serum Levels during Drug Therapy in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Leila Kouti,Kaveh Eslami,Sara Kooti,Maryam Aghakoochakzadeh,Parisa Mosallanezhad,Mehdi Sayyah

doi:10.1155/2016/9131680

Abstract

Objectives. Some studies have shown that increased nitric oxide (NO) concentrations may be associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In a few animal researches, enhanced synthesis of NO had reversed the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The present study tries to find the effect of treatment with SSRIs on NO serum levels and its product peroxynitrite. Patients and Methods. Patients diagnosed with OCD who are candidates of receiving SSRIs entered this study. Two blood samples were taken from subjects, prior to drug therapy and after the patients had shown some improvements due to their regimen. Serum NO and peroxynitrite levels were measured and their correlation with SSRI use was assessed. Results. 31 patients completed this study. Mean concentrations of NO and peroxynitrite prior to drug therapy were 28.63 ± 16.9 and 5.73 ± 2.5 μmol/L, respectively. These values were 18.87 ± 7.55 and 2.15 ± 0.94 μmol/L at the second blood test. With p values < 0.05, these differences were considered significant. Conclusion. Patients, who showed improvement of OCD symptoms after a mean duration of SSRI monotherapy of 3.531 ± 0.64 months, had lower values of NO and peroxynitrite in their sera compared to their levels prior to therapy. Such results can be helpful in finding a predictive factor of response to therapy and augmentation therapy with future drugs that target NO synthesis.

Highlights

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical, known to lead to neurodegeneration when overproduced in some disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and some psychiatric disorders [1, 2].Some studies have shown that increased NO concentrations may be associated with disorders of obsessive-compulsive spectrum
The mean ± standard deviation (SD) for duration of disease and duration of therapy were 10.40 ± 4.98 months and 3.531 ± 0.64 months, respectively
We found no significant correlation between gender and NO levels (p value = 0.0522), nor with the duration of the therapy (p value = 0.529) and duration of disease (p value = 0.527)

Summary

Introduction

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical, known to lead to neurodegeneration when overproduced in some disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and some psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, mania, and anxiety) [1, 2]. Some studies have shown that increased NO concentrations may be associated with disorders of obsessive-compulsive spectrum. According to these studies, some oxidants such as NO can act as an inflammatory agent in these disorders [3, 4]. The main neurotransmitter involved in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is serotonin. Studies that aim other etiologies and causes of OCD can be helpful in terms of finding new drugs with different mechanisms, targeting other possible causative factors of this disorder

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Conclusion