Plasma prolactin response to d-fenfluramine in obsessive-compulsive patients before and after fluvoxamine treatment.
The prolactin (PRL) responses to oral d-fenfluramine (30 mg) and placebo were assessed in 13 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and in matched healthy subjects. After the neuroendocrine test, all patients were treated with fluvoxamine maleate (150-300 mg/day). At the end of the 10th week of treatment, 10 patients underwent again the neuroendocrine assessment. In drug-free patients, the PRL response to d-fenfluramine was significantly lower than in the comparison group. After 10-week fluvoxamine treatment, the PRL response to the serotonergic agent normalized. These findings suggest that, at least at the neuroendocrine level, central serotonergic responsivity is reduced in drug-free OCD patients, and that long-term fluvoxamine administration is associated with its normalization.
Monteleone
P
P
Institute of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Catapano
F
F
Bortolotti
F
F
Maj
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005277:Fenfluramine; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005277:Fenfluramine; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D011388:Prolactin; D012701:Serotonin; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors