0000000000394598
AUTHOR
Jürgen Fritze
A genome screen for genes predisposing to bipolar affective disorder detects a new susceptibility locus on 8q
Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), also known as manic depressive illness, is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression. It has a lifetime prevalence of approximately 1% in all human populations. In order to identify chromosomal regions containing genes that play a role in determining susceptibility to this psychiatric condition, we have conducted a complete genome screen with 382 markers (average marker spacing of 9.3 cM) in a sample of 75 BPAD families which were recruited through an explicit ascertainment scheme. Pedigrees were of German, Israeli and Italian origin, respectively. Parametric and non-parametric linkage analysis was performed. The highe…
Evaluation of linkage of bipolar affective disorder to chromosome 18 in a sample of 57 German families.
Previously reported linkage of bipolar affective disorder to DNA markers on chromosome 18 was reexamined in a large sample of German bipolar families. Twenty-three short tandem repeat markers were investigated in 57 families containing 103 individuals with bipolar I disorder (BPI), 26 with bipolar II disorder (BPII), nine with schizoaffective disorder of the bipolar type (SA/BP), and 38 individuals with recurrent unipolar depression (UPR). Evidence for linkage was tested with parametric and non-parametric methods under two definitions of the affected phenotype. Analysis of all 57 families revealed no robust evidence for linkage. Following previous reports we performed separate analyses afte…
Reduction of clozapine-induced hypersalivation by pirenzepine is safe.
Introduction Hypersalivation is known as a frequent, disturbing, and socially stigmatizing side effect of therapy with the atypical antipsychotic clozapine. It has been shown that the addition of the anticholinergic pirenzepine is able to reduce clozapine-induced hypersalivation, probably by blocking M4-receptors. Nevertheless, a pharmacokinetic interaction between both compounds cannot be excluded. Methods In this pilot study, 29 schizophrenic patients (ICD-10; 51.7 % female; age: 36.7 +/- 8.7 years [mean +/- SD]) were included. Serum concentrations of clozapine and its pharmacologically active metabolite N-desmethylclozapine were determined under steady-state conditions by automated HPLC …
A possible susceptibility locus for bipolar affective disorder in chromosomal region 10q25--q26.
In an attempt to identify susceptibility loci for bipolar affective disorder, we are currently conducting a systematic genome screen with highly polymorphic microsatellite markers at an average marker spacing of 10 cM in a series of 75 families, comprising 66 families from Germany, eight families from Israel, and one family from Italy. The families were ascertained through index cases with bipolar affective disorder. The distribution of diagnoses is as follows: 126 individuals with bipolar I disorder, 40 with bipolar II disorder, 14 with schizoaffective disorder of the bipolar type, 40 individuals with recurrent unipolar depression, 51 with a minor psychiatric diagnosis, and two individuals…