title: Plasma homovanillic acid levels in schizophrenic patients: correlation with negative symptoms.
abstract: The relation between changes in the levels of plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA) and clinical evolution during neuroleptic treatment of schizophrenic patients has not been satisfactorily characterized, as a number of conflicting findings have been reported. Significant correlations have generally been found using the assessment of positive symptoms as an index of clinical outcome. Nevertheless, attempts to correlate pHVA concentrations with negative symptoms have yielded contradictory results. With a view to evaluating if different responses in negative symptoms are associated with distinct pHVA profiles, we examined the levels of pHVA in 46 neuroleptic-free schizophrenic patients and in these patients after neuroleptic treatment. Negative and positive symptoms were also addressed before and after treatment. Our results reveal that at least two classes of negative symptoms exist; the clinical evolution of the first class of negative symptoms parallels that of positive symptoms, and clinical improvement correlates with reduced dopaminergic activity. In contrast, in the second class, reduced dopaminergic activity is associated with a further deterioration of negative symptoms. These findings corroborate the heterogeneity of negative symptoms and may contribute to a better definition of endophenotypes in the schizophrenic syndrome.
authors: Departamento de Investigación Neuroquímica, Hospital Psiquiátrico de Zamudio, Servicio Vasco de Salud (Osakidetza), Arteaga Auzoa N degrees 45, E-48170 Zamudio, Vizcaya, Spain. rdavila@hzam.osakidetza.net
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Dávila
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Zumárraga
authors: Nieves
authors: N
authors: Basterreche
authors: Aurora
authors: A
authors: Arrúe
authors: Juan B
authors: JB
authors: Anguiano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006220:Haloperidol; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid