Platelet monoamine oxidase activity in underweight and weight-recovered females with anorexia nervosa.
BACKGROUND
Central serotonergic pathways may play an important role in the etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Although platelet monoamine oxidase activity (MAO-B) has been proposed as an index of cerebral serotonin activity, studies in patients with AN are scarce.


METHODS
Platelet MAO-B activity was determined in 59 acutely underweight AN patients (acAN, aged 14-29 years, BMI=15.2+/-1.4), 35 weight-recovered AN patients (recAN, aged 15-29, BMI=20.8+/-2.2) and 59 healthy control women (HCW, aged 14-26, BMI=21.6+/-2.1). Plasma leptin served as an indicator of malnutrition. Results were compared by ANCOVA controlling for confounding variables.


RESULTS
Platelet MAO-B activity in acAN patients (5.2+/-1.4 nmol/10 (9)pltx15 min) was similar to HCW (5.5+/-1.9) but significantly lower in recAN patients (4.4+/-1.5). BMI and leptin showed a significant negative correlation with MAO-B activity in AN patients, but not in HCW.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results highlight the importance of malnutrition for the interpretation of abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems in AN. Whether low MAO-B activity in weight-recovered AN patients indicates a premorbid trait or a secondary change due to recovery remains to be elucidated.
Ehrlich
S
S
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CVK, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Berlin, Germany. stefan.ehrlich@charite.de
Franke
L
L
Schott
R
R
Salbach-Andrae
H
H
Pfeiffer
E
E
Lehmkuhl
U
U
Uebelhack
R
R
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013851:Thinness / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
D020738:Leptin; D012701:Serotonin; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase