Study on cerebro-spinal fluid and plasma monoamine neurotransmitters of obsessive-compulsive disorder diagnosed primarily

Abstract

Objective To compare cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma levels of serotonin(5-HT) ,5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA),homovanillic acid (HVA),norepinephrine (NE) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol(MHPG) between patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) diagnosed primarily,and the normal controls and to explore the role of monoamine neurotransmitters in the pathogenesis of OCD.Methods Levels of 5-HT,5-HIAA,HVA,NE,MHPG and other substances in CSF and plasma were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection on samples,samples of patients before treatment and the normal controls were measured in one assay.Results CSF levels of 5-HT(37.03±9.32μg/L) and plasma levels of 5-HIAA(8.99±1.21μg/L) in patients with OCD were significantly lower than those of the normal controls(P<0.05).There was significant positive correlation between CSF levels of HVA and scores of Y-BOCS on OCD(r=0.421,P<0.05) ,but there was no correlation between scores of Y-BOCS on OCD and other neurotransmitters levels.Conclusion CSF levels of 5-HT and plasma levels of 5-HIAA in patients with OCD were significantly lower than those of the normal controls.Patients with OCD showed poor 5-lit function,severity of OCD symptoms was positively correlated with CSF levels of HVA. Key words: Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Plasma; Brain; Biogenic amine neurotransmitters