The molar ratio of total plasma tryptophan (Trp) to the sum of the other large neutral amino acids (LNAAs), thought to reflect brain serotonin (5-HT) formation, was estimated in 47 patients with major depression (unipolar and bipolar) before and after 6 weeks of treatment with a serotonin uptake inhibitor, fluvoxamine. We found a significant difference between responders (n = 39) and nonresponders (n = 8) for the pre- and in-treatment plasma Trp to LNAAs ratios. In contrast, there were no differences between the two groups for the mean plasma steady-state fluvoxamine levels. These findings suggest that a specific plasma amino acid profile may be a useful indicator of good clinical response to a selective 5-HT uptake inhibitor.

Keywords:
Tryptophan, Large neutral amino acids, Serotonin uptake inhibitors, Major depression, Responders, Non-responders
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© 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel
1994
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