J Korean Med Sci.  2010 Apr;25(4):613-618. 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.4.613.

Platelet Serotonin Transporter Function and Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Panic Disorder

• Kang EH
• Lee IS
• Park JE
• Kim KJ
• Yu BH

• KMID: 1792934
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.4.613

Abstract

Many studies showed abnormal serotonin transporter (5-HTT) function and heart rate variability (HRV) in panic disorder patients. The present study investigated the relationship between HRV power spectral analysis findings and platelet serotonin uptake in panic disorder patients. Short-term HRV over 5 min and platelet serotonin transporter uptake parameters (V(max) and K(m)) were measured both in 45 patients with panic disorder and in 30 age-matched normal healthy control subjects. Low frequency power (LF) normalized unit (nu) and LF/high frequency power (HF) were significantly higher, whereas HF and HF nu were lower in the patient group than in the control group. V(max) and K(m) were all significantly lower (i.e., reflects decreased 5-HTT function) in patients with panic disorder than in normal controls. In the patient group, Km was negatively correlated with LF/HF and LF nu whereas no such correlations between them were found in the control group. By multivariate analysis based on multiple hierarchical linear regression, a low Km independently predicted an increased LF nu even after controlling for age, sex, and body mass index in the patient group. These results suggest that impaired 5-HTT function is closely related to dysregulation of autonomic nervous system in panic disorder.

Keyword

Panic Disorder; Heart Rate Variability; Platelet Serotonin Uptake

MeSH Terms

Adult
Female
Heart Rate/*physiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Panic Disorder/*physiopathology
Serotonin/metabolism
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/*metabolism
Young Adult
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
Serotonin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Correlation between Km and LF nu in patients with panic disorder and in normal control subjects. (A) Patients with panic disorder. (B) Normal control subjects.

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  Fig. 2 Correlation between Km and LF/HF in patients with panic disorder and in normal control subjects. (A) Patients with panic disorder. (B) Normal control subjects.

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