Maes M, De Ruyter M, Hobin P, Suy E
Acta Psychiatr Belg. 1986 May-Jun;86(3):257-65.
L-tryptophan (L-TRP), the competing amino acids (CAA) valine and leucine and the cortisol levels taken at 8 a.m. after administration of dexamethasone on the previous day, were determined in 160 patients suffering from depression. The ratio between the L-TRP values and the sum of the competing amino acids was calculated. The clinical relevance of the L-TRP/CAA ratio in the case of major depression (DSM-III) versus minor depression (dysthymic disorder, atypical depression and adaptation disorder with depressive mood) was studied in comparison with the DST. Patients suffering from major depression showed a significantly decreased (p = 0.0006) L-TRP/CAA ratio. The combination of a decreased L-TRP/CAA ratio (cut off point less than or equal to 0.130) or an abnormal DST (cut off point greater than or equal to 3.5 micrograms/dl) is the best criterion which allows 59.0% of the patients suffering from major depression to be identified correctly with a specificity of 90.9%; the above-mentioned criterion permits 70.0% of the patients to be classified correctly into their actual group.
在前一天给予地塞米松后，于上午8点测定了160例抑郁症患者的L-色氨酸（L-TRP）、竞争性氨基酸（CAA）缬氨酸和亮氨酸以及皮质醇水平。计算了L-TRP值与竞争性氨基酸总和的比值。与地塞米松抑制试验（DST）相比，研究了重度抑郁症（DSM-III）与轻度抑郁症（恶劣心境障碍、非典型抑郁症和伴有抑郁情绪的适应障碍）患者中L-TRP/CAA比值的临床相关性。重度抑郁症患者的L-TRP/CAA比值显著降低（p = 0.0006）。L-TRP/CAA比值降低（截断点小于或等于0.130）或DST异常（截断点大于或等于3.5微克/分升）的联合是最佳标准，可使59.0%的重度抑郁症患者被正确识别，特异性为90.9%；上述标准可使70.0%的患者被正确分类到其实际组别。
