title: Prospective evaluation of circulatory levels of catecholamines and serotonin in neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) may be associated with a dysregulation of the catecholaminergic and serotonergic systems. The objective of the present study was to evaluate prospectively the circulatory levels of serotonin (5-HT), epinephrine (E) and dopa in patients suffering from NMS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Platelet-poor plasma (PPP) levels of serotonin, epinephrine and dopa in eight NMS patients were measured twice: in the acute state and in the state of remission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PPP dopa concentration was significantly lower in acute NMS state compared to the remission state (P = 0.023). In contrast, PPP E level was significantly higher (P = 0.019) in the acute NMS state and PPP 5-HT concentrations in the acute state tended to be higher than those at remission (P = 0.078). 5-HT/dopa ratio was significantly higher in the acute NMS (P = 0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results may reflect reduction in dopaminergic function and increase in adrenergic and serotonergic activity in the acute NMS state.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Ness-Ziona Mental Health Center, Israel.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spivak
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Maline
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vered
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Kozyrev
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mester
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Neduva
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ravilov
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Graff
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weizman
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009459:Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D012701:Serotonin; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D004837:Epinephrine