AN ASSOCIATION OF NAG LEVELS AND A MUTATION OF THE CCK GENE IN PANIC DISORDER PATIENTS

Levels of the enzyme N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG) and a mutatio n of cholecystokinin (CCK) gene appear to be independently associated with panic disorder. We explored whether there was an association of N AG levels and a CCK mutation identified in a group of panic disorder p atients. NAG was measured in 12 panic disorder patients who had a muta tion of the CCK gene and 17 who did not. Urine for NAG was collected a t baseline and after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment. NAG levels were lower at all three times in the patients that did not have the CCK mutation . The difference between the two groups was significant at week 6 (P < 0.02), and showed a trend toward a difference at baseline (P < 0.15). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.