title: Variability of plasma homovanillic acid over 13 months in patients with schizophrenia; relationship with the clinical response and the Wisconsin card sort test.
abstract: In the present study we have measured, on a monthly basis, the concentration of plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA) in schizophrenic patients during 13 months of their pharmacological treatment. The average pHVA values of each patient were within the range of 7.30-17.70 ng/ml and the coefficients of variation for each patient (CV %) were within the range of 13-33%. Half of the patients that showed higher pHVA CV% values also showed higher scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale at the beginning of the study, and improved more after 6 months, when compared to the remaining 50% with lower CV% values. There was no significant relationship between the scores of the Wisconsin Card Sort Test and the concentration or the CV% of the pHVA of each patient. A greater variability in the pHVA may be associated with a greater plasticity of the dopaminergic system and a better clinical response.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Investigación Neuroquímica, Red de Salud Mental de Bizkaia, Servicio Vasco de Salud, Arteaga Auzoa, 45, 48170, Zamudio, Bizkaia, Spain. mercedes.zumarragaortiz@osakidetza.net
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zumárraga
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: González-Torres
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arrue
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dávila
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dávila
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Inchausti
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pérez-Cabeza
authors.forename: Aránzazu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Rivas
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.forename: Nieves
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basterreche
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guimón
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006719:Homovanillic Acid