Study M639

Study name

Loeb E 2020

Title

Nitric Oxide Synthase activity in major depressive episodes before and after antidepressant treatment: results of a large case-control treatment study

Overall design

The aims of this study were to compare the nitric oxide synthase activity of patients with a major depressive episode (MDE) to that of healthy controls, and to assess its change after antidepressant treatment. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, an enzyme potentially involved in the major depressive episodes (MDE), could be indirectly measured by the L-citrulline/L-arginine ratio. A total of 460 patients with a current MDE in a context of major depressive disorder (MDD group) were compared to 895 healthy controls (control group) for NOS activity (L-citrulline/L-arginine ratio plasma ratio). L-Citrulline and L-arginine plasma levels were measured using a MS-based liquid chromatography method. Depressed patients were assessed at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months of antidepressant treatment for depression severity and clinical response. The responder status was defined based on a greater than 50% improvement in the HDRS, QIDS-C, and QIDS-SR scores.

Study Type

Type1;

Type2;

Type4;

Data available

Unavailable

Organism

Human;

Categories of depression

Depressive disorder; Depression; Depression;

Criteria for depression

DSM-IV diagnosed MDD, HAMD-17 >= 18

Sample size

1355

Tissue

Peripheral; Blood; Plasma;

Platform

MS-based; LC-MS: API 4000 Q-TRAP mass spectrometer (AB Sciex) coupled to an ACQUITY UPLC I Class system (Waters);

PMID

32524920

DOI

10.1017/S0033291720001749

Citation

Loeb E, Asmar KE, Trabado S, et al. Nitric Oxide Synthase activity in major depressive episodes before and after antidepressant treatment: results of a large case-control treatment study. Psychol Med. 2020.

Metabolite

L-Arginine;

Citrulline;

Citrulline/L-Arginine ratio;