Am J Psychiatry 1990; 147:1318-1321
Copyright © 1990 by American Psychiatric Association
Platelet MAO inhibition, urinary MHPG, and leukocyte beta-adrenergic receptors in depressed patients treated with phenelzine
RP Sharma, PG Janicak, JI Javaid, GN Pandey, B Gierl and JM Davis
Illinois State Psychiatric Institute, Chicago.
The authors investigated three biochemical indices of peripheral
catecholamine activity in 36 depressed inpatients treated with the
monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor phenelzine. Platelet MAO activity,
urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), and leukocyte
beta-adrenergic receptor functions were measured before and during the 4th
week of phenelzine treatment. There were significant reductions in platelet
MAO activity, urinary MHPG excretion, and depressive symptoms in all of the
patients. Responders had the same decrease in MHPG as nonresponders. There
were no changes in leukocyte beta-receptor function in a small subgroup of
the patients.
