Am J Psychiatry 1982; 139:936-938
Copyright © 1982 by American Psychiatric Association
Platelet MAO in children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity: a pilot study
WO Shekim, LG Davis, DB Bylund, E Brunngraber, L Fikes and J Lanham
The authors examined platelet MAO activity in 8 hyperactive and 18 control
children who were admitted to a clinical research center and placed on a
low monoamine diet. After 5 days, their blood was analyzed; the hyperactive
children were discharged on day 7, placed on d- amphetamine for 2 weeks,
and readmitted for repeat blood analysis. The hyperactive children
initially had significantly lower levels of platelet MAO than the controls.
After the hyperactive children were treated with d-amphetamine for 2 weeks,
their platelet MAO levels were comparable to those of the control children.
The authors suggest an association between low platelet MAO activity and a
behavioral state of overactivity, short attention span, and impulsivity.
