Decreased platelet 3H-paroxetine binding in untreated panic disorder patients.
Different findings support the involvement of the serotonin (5-HT) system in panic disorder. The presence of the 5-HT transporter in blood platelets similar to that in presynaptic serotonergic neurons, permits the investigation of this structure in periphery. We therefore evaluated the binding of 3H-paroxetine, a selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor which is considered the ligand of choice for labelling the 5-HT transporter, in platelets of 20 drug-free patients with panic disorder. The same measurement was repeated after one year's treatment with different drugs. The results showed patients to have a lower number of 3H-paroxetine sites than a group of age- and sex-matched controls, thus suggesting the involvement of the 5-HT transporter in panic disorder. This abnormality reverted after one year of treatment with specific drugs that provoked the symptom remission in all cases, which would suggest a link with the clinical improvement.
Marazziti
D
D
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie", University of Pisa, Italy. dmarazzi@psico.med.unipi.it
Rossi
A
A
Dell'Osso
L
L
Palego
L
L
Placidi
G P
GP
Giannaccini
G
G
Lucacchini
A
A
Cassano
G B
GB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000097:blood*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014316:Tritium
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014316:Tritium