title: Different patterns of longitudinal changes in plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites and brain-derived neurotrophic factor after administration of atypical antipsychotics in first episode untreated schizophrenic patients.
abstract: In the present study, we longitudinally investigated the effects of risperidone, olanzapine, and aripiprazole on plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in first-episode unmedicated schizophrenic patients. The subjects were 59 Japanese schizophrenic patients (35 males and 24 females; age range: 18-46 years; mean+/-SD: 25+/-16 years). The patients were treated with risperidone (n=32) in a dose range of 2-6 mg/day (mean+/-SD=3.4+/-1.9), olanzapine (n=18) in a dose range of 5-20 mg/day (mean+/-SD=12.1+/-5.8), or aripiprazole (n=9) in a dose range of 12-30 mg/day (mean+/-SD=22.8+/-10.1). All three drugs significantly decreased plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) levels within 8 weeks, although aripiprazole transiently raised this level before 8 weeks. All three drugs also significantly increased plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels within 8 weeks. On the other hand, none of them altered plasma BDNF levels. These results indicate that risperidone, olanzapine, and aripiprazole affect catecholaminergic systems in the brain, that the effects of aripiprazole on the dopaminergic systems seem to slightly different than those of risperidone and olanzapine, and that these atypical antipsychotic drugs might not alter BDNF levels, at least within 8 weeks of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Iseigaoka, Yahatansihi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan. yoshi621@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Reiji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Nobuhisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ikenouchi-Sugita
authors.forename: Wakako
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Umene-Nakano
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077152:Olanzapine; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018967:Risperidone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid