ABSTRACT
Plasma homovanillic acid concentration was assessed in 60 young schizophrenic patients, with and without first-degree relatives with schizophrenia, before treatment, and 3 days after starting haloperidol treatment. The baseline concentration of homovanillic acid in plasma was no different in the two groups before treatment; it was, however, significantly higher in the patients with relatives than in those without relatives diagnosed of schizophrenia after 3 days of haloperidol treatment.
Subject(s)
Homovanillic Acid/blood , Schizophrenia/blood , Schizophrenia/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Family , Female , Haloperidol/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Risk Factors , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Sex CharacteristicsABSTRACT
We describe a sensitive, simple method for measuring homovanillic acid in human plasma. The method is based on liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Sensitivity was 125 pg of homovanillic acid per injection. Samples were deproteinized and extracted with organic solvent before chromatography. Quantification was by the standard-additions technique. Analytical recovery of added HVA was 44.8 (SD 6.2%). We confirmed specificity by using serial amperometric detectors.
