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Biological Evaluation of the Severity of Depression – a New Method for Assaying Platelet Serotonin Concentrations

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Study aim. To develop a highly sensitive method for assaying platelet serotonin concentrations suitable for use in daily clinical practice. Materials and methods. The method was intended for assay of platelet-enriched plasma (PEP). Serotonin was assayed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorimetric detection and a hematology analyzer. Results and discussion. Investigations of healthy subjects yielded platelet serotonin concentrations consistent with published data: from 2.19 to 4.87 nmol/109 platelets. Investigations of 30 patients with depressive disorders identified decreased platelet serotonin concentrations, with levels ranging from 0.11 to 2.89 nmol/109 platelets, along with a correlation between this value and clinical evaluation of the severity of depression. The authors regard the method developed here as suitable for clinical purposes.

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Correspondence to M. V. Bezrukov.

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Translated from Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S. S. Korsakova, Vol. 114, No. 8, Iss. I, pp. 51–57, August, 2014.

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Bezrukov, M.V., Shilov, Y.E., Shestakova, N.V. et al. Biological Evaluation of the Severity of Depression – a New Method for Assaying Platelet Serotonin Concentrations. Neurosci Behav Physi 46, 338–343 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-016-0238-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-016-0238-5

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