title: 6‐Sulfatoxymelatonin as a predictor of clinical outcome in depressive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study established the value of the 6‐sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) urine concentration as a predictor of the therapeutic response to noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors in depressive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two women aged 18-60 years were selected. Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the Hamilton Depression Scale. Urine samples were collected at 0600-1200 h, 1200-1800 h, 1800-2400 h, and 2400-0600 h intervals, 1 day before and 1 day after starting on the nortriptyline treatment. Urine aMT6s concentration was analyzed by a one-way analysis of variance/Bonferroni test. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between depressive symptoms after 2 weeks of antidepressant treatment and the increase in aMT6s urine concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher and lower size effect groups were compared by independent Student's t-tests. At baseline, the 2400‐ to 0600‐h interval differed from all other intervals presenting a significantly higher aMT6s urine concentration. A significant difference in aMT6s urine concentrations was found 1 day after treatment in all four intervals. Higher size effect group had lower levels of depressive symptoms 2 weeks after the treatment. A positive correlation between depressive symptoms and the delta of aMT6s in the 2400-0600 h interval was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results reinforce the hypothesis that aMT6s excretion is a predictor of clinical outcome in depression, especially in regard to noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul and Laboratory of Chronobiology of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. mpaz@cpovo.net
authors.forename: Maria Paz Loayza
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: Wolnei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Caumo
authors.forename: Giovana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.forename: Daiane Gil
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Iraci Lucena da Silva
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pezzi
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elisabetsky
authors.forename: Bernardo Carraro
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Detanico
authors.forename: Ângelo
authors.initials: Â
authors.lastname: Piato
authors.forename: Regina P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Markus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D015415:Biomarkers; C054513:6-sulfatoxymelatonin; D009661:Nortriptyline; D008550:Melatonin