HLA-DR7 in association with chlorpromazine-induced lupus anticoagulant (LA).

The presence of anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) has been associated with the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. These autoantibodies occur in individuals with infections such as that produced by the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) or with syphilis, but they can also occur in drug-induced lupus-like syndromes. In the present study, we analysed the presence of aPL (detected as lupus anti-coagulant) and its relationship with the MHC markers in 93 Caucasian psychiatric patients chronically treated with chlorpromazine. Forty-one out of 93 patients were positive for LA, and the HLA-DR7 antigen was significantly increased in LA-positive patients as compared to normal controls or LA-negative patients (PC = 0.024, RR = 2.12 and P = 0.05, RR = 1.57, respectively). Likewise, we noted a significantly increased frequency of HLA-B44 in LA-positive patients as compared to normal controls (PC = 0.024, RR = 2.12), but not when compared to aPL-negative patients. No significant differences were found among any other class I, II or III MHC antigens. Haplotype analysis showed that DR7 was mostly part of the HLA-B44-DR7-FC31 and B7-DR7-SC31 haplotypes. These results suggest that the HLA-DR7 antigen might be playing a role in the production of aPL in chlorpromazine-treated patients.

Aspectos neuroendocrinos y psicofarmacologicos de la funcion pineal: melatonina y desordenes psiquiatricos / Neuroendocrine and psychopharmacological aspects of the pineal function: melatonin and psychiatric disorders

La presente revisión de la literatura especializada considera el paple fisiológico de la glándula pineal y su principal producto, la hormona melatonina, en los principapels cuadros psiquiátricos, como esquizofrenia, desórdenes afectivos y en algunas conductas básicas del animal y del hombre. Sin embargo, al presente, los mecanismos por los cuales la melatonina actúa a nivel fisiológico y farmacológico permanecen en muchos puntos como materia de especulación. Es, por ahora, imposible saber si el estudio sistemático de la pineal demostrará ser de significado en la comprensión de los desórdenes mentales; pero es, creemos, suficiente la evidencia que justifica tal interrogante

Aspectos neuroendocrinos y psicofarmacologicos de la funcion pineal: melatonina y desordenes psiquiatricos / Neuroendocrine and psychopharmacological aspects of the pineal function: melatonin and psychiatric disorders

La presente revisión de la literatura especializada considera el paple fisiológico de la glándula pineal y su principal producto, la hormona melatonina, en los principapels cuadros psiquiátricos, como esquizofrenia, desórdenes afectivos y en algunas conductas básicas del animal y del hombre. Sin embargo, al presente, los mecanismos por los cuales la melatonina actúa a nivel fisiológico y farmacológico permanecen en muchos puntos como materia de especulación. Es, por ahora, imposible saber si el estudio sistemático de la pineal demostrará ser de significado en la comprensión de los desórdenes mentales; pero es, creemos, suficiente la evidencia que justifica tal interrogante (AU)

[Neuroendocrine and psychopharmacologic aspects of the pineal function. Melatonin and psychiatric disorders]. / Aspectos neuroendócrinos y psicofarmacológicos de la función pineal. Melatonina y desórdenes psiquiátricos.

The development of psychiatric thought has always been in close association with the pineal gland. The importance of a relationship between pineal, and mental functions was stressed by Descartes when he placed the seat of rational thought as well as the confluence of body and soul in this organ (Cf. Descartes, L'Homme, 1664). His writings exerted such a strong influence that, quite soon indeed, physicians started regarding this gland as being the source of many mental disorders. In an attempt to find and explain a possible link between mental abnormalities, and the discovery of calcified pineals in necroptic studies, many theories were put forward during the 18th, and the 19th century. Afterwards, the importance of the gland went almost unnoticed until 1920, when Becker treated psychotic patients with pineal extracts. An up-to-1950 review by Kitay and Altschule (1954) reported 17 cases where pineal extracts were successfully injected to psychotic patients. In the present review, the author tries and summarizes several reports dealing with the influence of the pineal function on affective disorders, schizophrenia, sleep cycle, Parkinson disease, etc., as a contribution to future research work in this field.