Platelet MAO activity was determined in 33 anorexia nervosa patients. A
subgroup of 15 patients who met Research Diagnostic Criteria for a
concomitant major depressive disorder were found to have, both initially
and after 5 weeks of treatment, significantly lower mean platelet monoamine
oxidase (MAO) activity than 28 matched normal control subjects. In
contrast, mean platelet MAO activity in the patients who did not meet
criteria for major depressive disorder was similar to values in control
subjects. The authors found that significantly more depressed patients had
low MAO activity compared with nondepressed patients and controls. Platelet
MAO activity may be useful in discriminating among subtypes of anorexia
nervosa patients.Abstract Teaser