Biomaterial Database

Nocturnal/daytime urine noradrenergic measures and sleep in combat-related PTSD. 1995

T A Mellman, and A Kumar, and R Kulick-Bell, and M Kumar, and B Nolan

Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center, Psychiatry Service, Miami, FL 33125, USA.

Prominent heightened arousal symptoms and clinical/laboratory findings implicate the central noradrenergic system in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Heightened arousal frequently manifests in relation to sleep in PTSD. Central noradrenergic systems have a role in regulating arousal levels during sleep. We therefore evaluated noradrenergic production via urinary excretion in relation to sleep/wake activity in PTSD patients and controls. Twenty patients--all Vietnam veterans diagnosed with combat-related PTSD--and eight non-ill, non-combat-exposed controls had overnight sleep studies under medication and substance-free conditions. In association with sleep recording, subjects saved their urine for 24 hours in three 8-hour collections in order to obtain "daytime" (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, 4:00 PM to MN) and "nocturnal" (MN to 8:00 AM) catecholamine measures. PTSD patients had decreased sleep efficiency relative to controls and increased REM density; 24-hour norepinephrine and MHPG (the more centrally derived metabolite) did not differ between patients and controls. "Nocturnal" excretion of MHPG minus the average of the two "daytime" values was negative in the controls, slightly positive in the patients, and differed significantly between the two groups. "Nocturnal minus daytime" MHPG also correlated negatively with total sleep time in the PTSD patients (R = -.45, p < .05). Our data support a relationship of nondiminished central noradrenergic activity at night, and sleep disturbance, in chronic, combat-related PTSD.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008734	Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol	Synthesized from endogenous epinephrine and norepinephrine in vivo. It is found in brain, blood, CSF, and urine, where its concentrations are used to measure catecholamine turnover.	Hydroxymethoxyphenylglycol,MHPG,MOPEG,Vanylglycol,4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethylene Glycol,4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethyleneglycol,4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol,Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol, (+)-Isomer,Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol, (+-)-Isomer,Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol, (-)-Isomer,4 Hydroxy 3 methoxyphenylethylene Glycol,4 Hydroxy 3 methoxyphenylethyleneglycol,4 Hydroxy 3 methoxyphenylglycol
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009638	Norepinephrine	Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic.	Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D003130	Combat Disorders	Neurotic reactions to unusual, severe, or overwhelming military stress.	Neuroses, War,War Neuroses,Combat Neuroses,Combat Neurosis,Combat Stress Disorders,Shell Shock,War Neurosis,Combat Disorder,Combat Stress Disorder,Disorder, Combat,Disorder, Combat Stress,Disorders, Combat,Disorders, Combat Stress,Neuroses, Combat,Neurosis, Combat,Neurosis, War,Shell Shocks,Shock, Shell,Shocks, Shell,Stress Disorder, Combat,Stress Disorders, Combat
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001143	Arousal	Cortical vigilance or readiness of tone, presumed to be in response to sensory stimulation via the reticular activating system.	Vigilance, Cortical,Arousals,Cortical Vigilance