title: Imipramine binding as a predictor of fluoxetine response in depressed patients.
abstract: We evaluated platelet 3H-imipramine (3H-IMI) binding parameters (Bmax and Kd) at baseline (t0) and 2 months after (t1) treatment with fluoxetine in a group of outpatients affected by a major depressive episode, according to DSM-IIIR criteria. The possible relationships between biological parameters and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) total score were examined. The results confirmed previous reports that depressed patients possessed a lower density (Bmax) of platelet 3H-IMI binding sites than healthy controls, but the Bmax tended to decrease with fluoxetine. In addition, we observed a negative correlation between Bmax values at t0 and the HRSD total scores at t1 indicating that the patients who responded better to fluoxetine were those with a lower Bmax at t0. Future studies will substantiate this preliminary observation on the possible usefulness of platelet 3H-IMI binding as a predictor of pharmacological response.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castrogiovanni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Muro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marazziti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D011955:Receptors, Drug; C027775:imipramine receptor; D005473:Fluoxetine