Humoral activity markers in postraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Introduction. There’s no doubt about the close relationship between the neuroendocrine and immunological systems with psychogenic symptoms, but still the psychiatrists don’t work toghether with the biochemists and immunologists. This may be due to two reasons: one is the difficulty in finding workgroups with both professionals and the other is how to study functionally and effectively a psychosomatic patient with the usual samples: blood and urine.

Method. We thought that our workgroup had these conditions and assessed the functional activity of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients determining immunological and biochemical chronic stress markers in venous blood and 24-hour urine samples.

Results. In a prospective study that included 49 patients (38 PTSD patients and 11 control patients) we determined serotonin, prolactin, thyroid and adreno-sympathetic activity markers, immunoglobulins and lymphocytes. Our study revealed a sympathetic and serotoninergic enhanced activity, mild hyperprolactinemia and primary hypothyroidism also with lymphopenia (mostly in NK lymphocytes) and a slight increase in non-secretors antibodies.

Conclusions. We think that the functional diagnosis of the immune, endocrine and neurological systems is possible, and may be relevant for the management of the PTSD and other psychosomatic patients.