title: Plasma catecholamine metabolite levels and the activities of psychiatric symptoms in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is accompanied by neurological or psychiatric symptoms that can be severe. We hypothesized plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels were the biological marker that reflected the severity of the NPSLE psychiatric symptoms, and we examined MHPG and HVA levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were 42 healthy volunteers and 41 SLE patients. SLE patients were divided into the three groups: NPSLE with psychiatric symptoms (NP group), NPSLE without psychiatric symptoms (NN group), and SLE without neuropsychiatric symptoms (S group). All blood samples were drawn before (T0) and after 4 weeks of treatment (T4) in all SLE patients, and once in the healthy volunteers. Plasma levels of MHPG and HVA were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma MHPG levels at T0 were significantly increased in the SLE compared to those in healthy volunteers. The NN group had the greatest increase compared with other SLE patient groups. There were no significant differences in plasma HVA levels at T0 between the four groups, and there was also no difference in MHPG and HVA plasma levels between T0 and T4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperactivity of noradrenergic neurons and/or sympathetic nerves might be involved in SLE pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan. atsuko-i@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ikenouchi-Sugita
authors.forename: Reiji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Wakako
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Umene-Nakano
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsuki
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Yoshiya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020945:Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002395:Catecholamines