CSF AND PLASMA MHPG, AND THE CSF MHPG INDEX - PRETREATMENT LEVELS IN DIAGNOSTIC GROUPS AND RESPONSE TO SOMATIC TREATMENTS

The authors report a significant positive correlation between levels o f 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma in drug-free affective disorder patients (major depression, mania, and schizoaffective disorder), but not in schizophrenia. Recen t kinetic studies on the relationship between plasma and CSF MHPG disc ourage the interpretation of independent CSF MHPG levels without corre ction for the diffusion of MHPG across the blood-brain barrier. The au thors therefore examine pretreatment CSF and plasma MHPG levels, and t he CSF MHPG index (CSF MHPG corrected for by using simultaneously obta ined plasma MHPG according to the method of Kopin et al. [1983]). No s ignificant differences were found in these pretreatment MHPG measures among the four diagnostic groups. Changes in these MHPG indices, and t heir correlations with behavioral rating scores, are also examined wit h respect to response to the four major somatic therapies (neuroleptic s, lithium, antidepressants, and electroconvulsive therapy).