Plasma homovanillic acid concentrations in catatonia

Georg Northoff, Lothar Demisch, Jens Wenke, Burkhard Pflug

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We investigated the dopamine metabolite plasma homovanillic acid (plasma HVA) levels in 37 catatonic patients on the day of admission before initial medication as well as in 17 healthy controls. In a prospective study catatonic syndrome was diagnosed according to criteria of Lohr and Wiesniwski (1987) and Rosebush et al (1990) whereas comorbid diagnosis was made by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd ed, revised (DSM III/R) (APA 1987). On the day of admission blood samples were taken before initial medication. Compared to controls (80.1 ± 40.1 pmol/mL) catatonic patients showed significantly (p 0.0286) increased plasma HVA (140.9 ± 53.6 pmol/mL). Catatonic patients free of neuroleptic medication (n = 21) differed significantly (p = 0.0416) from controls whereas neuroleptically treated catatonics (n = 16) did not. Our findings of increased plasma HVA in catatonia are explained by an alteration in either mesolimbic or mesocortical dopaminergic function, as is assumed in the case of schizophrenia. As an alternative, it may be due to increased nigrostriatal function, which can lead, as-shown in animal experiments with the dopamine agonist amphetamine, to hypokinetic states resembling catatonia in humans.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)436-443
Number of pages8
JournalBiological Psychiatry
Volume39
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 15 1996

Keywords

  • Catatonia
  • Dopamine
  • Plasma HVA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biological Psychiatry

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