title: TRH test, DST, and response to desipramine in primary degenerative dementia.
abstract: The relationship of primary degenerative dementia (PDD) to major depressive disorder (MDD) is important clinically and theoretically. Neuroendocrine challenge strategies in PDD have focused primarily on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, have had varied results, and have not been coupled with assessment of response to antidepressant therapy. We studied the Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) test, the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST), and response to desipramine in 12 patients with PDD and 10 patients with MDD. The PDD patients had a high percentage of abnormal TRH tests and DSTs. This was not associated with improvement on desipramine.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
chemical_list: D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003891:Desipramine