Abstract
Literature data suggest that alterations in serotonergic system and cholesterol homeostasis could be implicated in the pathophysiology of mood disorders like mania. Blood platelets have an important place in the investigations of the ethiology and treatment of mental disorders as a peripheral model for central serotonergic synaptosomes. The purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship between platelet 5-HT concentration, platelet monoamine oxydase (MAO) activity and serum lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL) levels and psychotic and nonpsychotic symptoms in patients with mania. Study included 50 male patients (age 42.2 14.1 years) with bipolar affective disorder, current episode mania (DSM-IV criteria), and 38 healthy persons (age 36.8 10.3 years). Patients with mania were subdivided according to the presence of psychotic features into two groups consisted of 28 nonpsychotic and 22 psychotic patients. Platelet 5-HT concentration and platelet MAO activity were determined using spectrofluorimetric methods, while plasma lipid levels were measured by the standard clinical laboratory procedures. There was a significant difference in platelet 5-HT concentration, serum cholesterol and LDL values between healthy persons and patients with mania subdivided according to the presence of psychotic and nonpsychotic symptoms. Patients with psychotic features had significantly higher values of platelet 5-HT, and significantly lower values of serum cholesterol and LDL than nonpsychotic patients and control subjects. There was no difference in platelet MAO activity and serum values of TG and HDL among groups. Our results suggest that high levels of platelet 5-HT and low levels of serum total cholesterol and LDL could be used as peripheral biological markers for mania with psychotic features.
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