title: Plasma amyloid-β levels in drug-resistant bipolar depressed patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alterations of plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides have been related to a high risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. The present study aimed to measure plasma Aβ peptides (Aβ40, Aβ42) and the Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio in a sample of drug-resistant bipolar depressed patients, as well as to explore the possible correlation between biological parameters and clinical changes along an electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) course.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aβ40 and Aβ42 were measured by means of an ELISA assay in 25 drug-resistant bipolar depressed patients before (T0) and 1 week after (T1) the end of ECT. The patients were clinically evaluated by means of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 21-item (HRSD-21), the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma Aβ levels and the Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio were similar at T0 and T1. The Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio correlated positively with the HRSD total score at both T0 and T1. At T0, a negative correlation was found between the Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio and the improvement of depressive and cognitive symptoms. Moreover, remitters (n = 9; HRSD ≤10) showed a significantly lower Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio at T0 than nonremitters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data suggest that a low Aβ40/Aβ42 ratio might characterize a subgroup of depressed patients who respond to ECT, while higher values of this parameter seem to be typical of more severe cases of patients with cognitive impairment.
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. a.piccinni@med.unipi.it
authors: Armando
authors: A
authors: Piccinni
authors: Antonello
authors: A
authors: Veltri
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Vizzaccaro
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Catena Dell'Osso
authors: Pierpaolo
authors: P
authors: Medda
authors: Luciano
authors: L
authors: Domenici
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Vanelli
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Cecchini
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Franceschini
authors: Ciro
authors: C
authors: Conversano
authors: Donatella
authors: D
authors: Marazziti
authors: Liliana
authors: L
authors: Dell'Osso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40); C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42)