PURPOSE Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening complication of serotonergic agents. Although mirtazapine is a relatively safe antidepressant and has a comparatively low incidence of side effects, it still could induce serotonin syndrome. CASE REPORT We described a 34-year-old man with schizophrenic disorder who presented with acute consciousness disturbance, extremely high fever...

Cluster headache is a rare and severe pain syndrome with elusive pathophysiology. Serotonin pathways within the brainstem may be implicated in cluster headache with seasonal affective disorder and a subset of cranial nerve neuralgias. We describe and chronicle a syndrome consisting of cluster headache, seasonal affective disorder, with associated trigeminal, glossopharyngeal, superior laryngeal...

Introduction Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in many foods. It is abundant in dairy products but meats such as turkey and chicken are a particularly rich source. By the late 1970s it was commonly believed that the primary tryptophan metabolic pathways had been elucidated. The pathway from tryptophan to serotonin (5hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and onwards to melatonin had been clarified ...

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an autism spectrum disorder caused by mutations in the X-linked gene that encodes the transcription factor methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). A major debilitating phenotype in affected females is frequent apneas, and heterozygous Mecp2-deficient female mice mimic the human respiratory disorder. GABA defects have been demonstrated in the brainstem of Mecp2-deficient mic...

A 50-year-old man was admitted to hospital with hyperhidro-sis, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. He had been taking fluoxe-tine (120 mg/d), meprobamate (400 mg/d) and aceprometazine (13.55 mg/d). The dose of fluoxetine had just been increased. The patient was agitated and had insomnia and hyperreflexia, but there were no focal neurological findings. His blood pressure was 155/80 mm Hg, his heart ...

AIMS Recent genetic studies have linked serotonin-related genetic polymorphisms with diverse disorders characterized by functional somatic symptoms, including chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. METHODS We investigated three serotonin-related genetic polymorphisms by screening genomic DNA of 36 temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients. R...

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is chronic autoimmune disorder of unknown ethiopathogenesis. In line with the concept of neuroimmunohormonal dysregulation in inflammatory rheumatic diseases, the aim of this study was to investigate platelet serotonin level (PSL) in patients with pSS and its relation with the activity and duration of the disease. Significantly lower PSL in pSS patients (N=61) w...

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction, usually followed by complete resolution. It is precipitated by severe stress, and the most common variant (takotsubo) is marked by apical hypokinesis and ballooning with basal hyperkinesis. Serotonin syndrome is best understood as excess serotonergic activity in the central and peripheral nervous system. T...

Carcinoid tumors are rare, arising in 1.2-2.1 per 100,000 people in the general population per year.1 In 20%-30% of patients, the initial presentation occurs as a result of peptide production, ie, carcinoid syndrome. The malignant carcinoid syndrome consists of flushing, gastrointestinal hypermotility (secretory diarrhea), bronchospasm, and carcinoid heart disease. The syndrome is caused by the...

Studies of children with ADHD and Tourette syndrome, and their families, show that both the patients and their relatives are at increased risk for alcoholism, and other behavioral disorders. Defective serotonin metabolism has been implicated in all of these disorders. Platelet serotonin and blood tryptophan levels are low in the patients and both parents. Analysis of pedigrees suggest that a ge...