IMIPRAMINE BINDING AS A PREDICTOR OF FLUOXETINE RESPONSE IN DEPRESSED-PATIENTS

We evaluated platelet H-3-imipramine (H-3-IMI) binding parameters (B-max and K-d) at baseline (t(0)) and 2 months after (t(1)) treatment with fluoxetine in a group of outpatients affected by a major depressive episode, according to DSM-IIIR criteria. The possible relationships between biological parameters and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) total score were examined. The results confirmed previous reports that depressed patients possessed a lower density (B-max) of platelet H-3-IMI binding sites than healthy controls, but the B-max tended to decrease with fluoxetine. In addition, we observed a negative correlation between B-max values at t(0) and the HRSD total scores at t(1) indicating that the patients who responded better to fluoxetine were those with a lower B-max at t(0) Future studies will substantiate this preliminary observation on the possible usefulness of platelet H-3-IMI binding as a predictor of pharmacological response.