title: Serum level of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase in children with ADHD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to analyze the extracellularly acting semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) serum levels in children with ADHD for the first time. SSAO is known to show deviations from normal in various somatic disorders and to interplay with the intracellularly active MAO. In humans two forms of SSAO a circulating form in plasma and a membrane-bound form are involved in monoaminergic metabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed serum levels of SSAO in 27 children meeting ICD-10 criteria of Hyperkinetic Disorder (F90) or DSM-IV criteria of ADHD combined type by HPLC method and fluorimetric detection. A group of 42 healthy volunteers within the same age range (7.0 - 14.0 years) served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences between children with ADHD (SSAO activity M = 773, SD = 217 mU/l) and healthy controls (SSAO activity M = 775, SD = 256 mU/l) in SSAO serum levels were found (F = 2.18; p > 0.14). Further, stimulant medication status had no influence on the result (F = 2.52; p > 0.11).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no evidence for a deviation of SSAO serum activity in ADHD. Hence, extracellularly acting SSAO does not seem to be a promising factor for further research in ADHD. But progress in knowledge of its physiologic role and of the relationship between the membrane-bound and the circulating serum form may open new avenues for research on SSAO in ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Goettingen, Von-Siebold-Str, 5, D-37075 Goettingen, Germany. vroessn@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Veit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Roessner
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uebel
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
authors.forename: Aribert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rothenberger