Platelet monoamine uptake in relatives of patients with Huntington's chorea.

Uptake of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) by the platelets of 25 symptom-free relatives of patients with established Huntington's chorea (HC) was not significantly different from that of control subjects. Platelet uptake of 5-HT in 3 subjects with early signs of the disease showed increased Km and Vmax values. Increased platelet uptake of 5-HT in patients with established HC was confirmed in a further 3 patients. It seems that this phenomenon appears with the clinical evidence of the disease. Further investigation of the nature of the platelet uptake abnormality may cast light on pathogenic factors in HC.