[Plasma norepinephrine concentration and 24 hour urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol sulfate excretion in endogenous depressed patients].

Abstract

The plasma NE concentration was assayed with HPLC-ED and 24 hour urinary MHPG-SO4 excretion was determined in 23 endogenous depressed patients and 17 normal controls. In normal controls, plasma NE concentration was significantly correlated with age and was significantly higher in female than that in male. Plasma NE level in endogenous depressed patients was statistically higher than that in the age- and sex-matched controls (paired t test, P less than 0.05). The causes of the result difference among the past plasma NE studies was discussed and the necessity to design the age- and sex-matched controls in the future plasma NE study was suggested.