Urinary neopterin levels in patients with major depressive disorder and panic disorder who do not receive pharmacologic treatment

Objective: To measure urinary level of pterine which takes place in synthesis of monoamine in major depressive disorder and panic disorder patiens and compare results with healthy group. Methods: Fourteen patients with panic disorder, 26 patients with major depressive disorder and 20 healthy volunteers were included to the study. Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Panic-Agoraphobia Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were applied to patients in order to evaluate severity of disorders. Results: Measurement results of neopterin levels were 199.6 +/- 90.8 mu mol/creatinine in depressive disorder group, 182.9 +/- 68.0 mu mol/creatinin panic disorder group and 181.4 +/- 202.8 mu mol/creatinin in control group (p=0.030). Neopterin level in depressive disorder is significantly higher than control group (p=0.015). Conclusion: Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is cofactor of tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase, the rate limiting enzymes in synthesis of serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine from tyrosine and tryptophan. Rise in plasma levels of neopterine means activation in BH4 synthesis and reduction in monoamine levels. According to the results our study, changes in neopterine and BH4 levels may have influence in appearing depressive disorder more than panic disorder. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2011; 12:7-12)