title: Increased beclomethasone-induced vasoconstriction in women with posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: It has been hypothesized that patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) show increased glucocorticoid sensitivity. The study tested beclomethasone-induced vasoconstriction (BIV), a measure of peripheral glucocorticoid sensitivity, in women with PTSD. A case-control design was employed in 33 PTSD patients and 33 healthy controls. BIV was tested using beclomethasone dipropionate (1-100 micro g/ml). Vasoconstriction was assessed after 15-18 h. Waking and afternoon salivary cortisol concentrations were measured. BIV ratings were significantly increased in PTSD at beclomethasone concentrations from 10-100 micro g/ml. Salivary cortisol concentrations did not differ between groups or correlate with BIV. Preliminary evidence has been found for increased peripheral glucocorticoid sensitivity in PTSD. Further study is required to replicate this finding and assess its relationship to the pathophysiology of the disorder.
authors.affiliation: 1E7.16 WMC, Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, 8440-112 Street, Edmonton, T6G 2B7, Alberta, Canada. nc2@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Nick J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Coupland
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hegadoren
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Myrholm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001507:Beclomethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone