title: Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein in major depressive and eating disorders.
abstract: Plasma alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels were measured in 49 subjects with major depressive disorder, 15 subjects with anorexia nervosa and 18 subjects with bulimia nervosa, together with age- and sex-matched controls. AGP levels were elevated in depression and bulimia compared to controls. They were particularly elevated in depressed subjects who proved unresponsive to treatment with a standard course of antidepressants. In the depressed subjects, elevated AGP levels returned to control levels after treatment whether or not treatment was successful. There was a correlation between AGP and post-dexamethasone plasma cortisol levels in depression but not in bulimia and a correlation with age in depressed subjects only. There was no correlation between AGP values and tritiated imipramine binding parameters. Further studies are suggested to explore the issue of whether variations in AGP level are responsible for the abnormalities in platelet 5HT uptake and tritiated imipramine binding that have been reported in depression or for treatment non-response.
authors.affiliation: Sub-Department of Psychological Medicine, North Wales Hospital, Clwyd, Denbigh, U.K.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calvin
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wilton-Cox
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Theodorou
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Paykel
mesh_terms: D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002032:Bulimia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007099:Imipramine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008127:Lofepramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D010556:Personality Tests; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009961:Orosomucoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; C027775:imipramine receptor; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008127:Lofepramine; D007099:Imipramine; D006854:Hydrocortisone