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H Aggernaes

Publications and source records attributed to H Aggernaes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Double-blind comparison of the side-effect profiles of daily versus alternate-day dosing schedules in lithium maintenance treatment of manic-depressive disorder.

The side-effect profiles of daily vs. alternate-day lithium carbonate dosing schedule were compared in a double-blind study of 50 manic-depressive patients. Following a 3-month period on daily lithium maintenance treatment the patients were randomly allocated to daily or alternate-day lithium dosing aiming at maintaining the same 12-h serum concentration as prior to allocation (median 0.7 mmol/l). The daily and alternate-day median lithium doses were 700 mg and 1200 mg, respectively. There was no significant correlation between changes in the side-effect scores on the UKU side-effect rating scale and lithium dosing schedule (ordinal logistic regression), although analysis revealed a trend in favour of alternate-day dosing with respect to polyuria/polydipsia and diarrhoea (loose stool). The study thus lends no support to the hypothesis that lithium-related side-effects can be diminished by extending the interval between lithium doses from 1 to 2 days.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Twelve-hour brain lithium concentration in lithium maintenance treatment of manic-depressive disorder: daily versus alternate-day dosing schedule.

The 12-h brain lithium concentration was measured by lithium-7 magnetic resonance spectroscopy in ten manic-depressive patients receiving daily or alternate-day lithium carbonate treatment. The median dose of lithium carbonate was 800 mg in the daily treatment group and 1200 mg in the alternate-day group. Median 12-h serum lithium concentration in the two groups was 0.86 mmol l-1 and 0.55 mmol l-1, respectively, while the corresponding concentration in brain was 0.67 mmol l-1 and 0.52 mmol l-1, respectively. The 12-h brain lithium concentration was independent of lithium dosing schedule (multiple linear regression), but correlated significantly with the 12-h serum lithium concentration (P = 0.003; B = 0.53, 95% c.l. 0.24-0.82; beta = 0.83). Thus at identical 12-h serum lithium concentrations the 12-h brain lithium concentration is similar with both treatment regimes. As the risk of manic-depressive relapse during alternate-day lithium treatment is in our experience 3-fold greater than with daily treatment (at similar mean 12-h serum lithium concentration), the findings suggest that the difference in the prophylactic efficacy of the two dosing schedules is unrelated to differences in the 12-h brain lithium concentration.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Urinary excretion of albumin and transferrin in lithium maintenance treatment: daily versus alternate-day lithium dosing schedule.

Urinary excretion of albumin and transferrin was determined by means of sensitive immunochemical methods in 40 manic-depressive patients prior to and following 6 months of daily or alternate-day lithium carbonate treatment. The median dose of lithium carbonate was 700 mg in the daily treatment group and 1200 mg in the alternate-day group, the corresponding median 12-h serum lithium concentration being 0.6 mmol l-1 and 0.7 mmol l-1, respectively. Urinary excretion of albumin and transferrin was significantly elevated in the lithium-treated patients as compared to a control group (Mann-Whitney). The change in urinary albumin:creatinine and transferrin:creatinine ratios between allocation and 6 months of treatment did not correlate significantly with the lithium dosing schedule (multiple linear regression), but did correlate with total lithium carbonate dose. In conclusion, the study provides no evidence of any difference in glomerular function (permeability) in the daily and alternate-day lithium dosing schedules, and lends no support to the hypothesis that alternate-day treatment diminishes the effect of lithium on renal function.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Lithium prophylaxis of manic-depressive disorder: daily lithium dosing schedule versus every second day.

The prophylactic efficacy of lithium carbonate given every second day versus daily intake was compared in a double-blind study including 50 manic-depressive patients. The patients met the DSM-III-R criteria for bipolar disorder or depressive disorder; according to ICD-8 the patients fulfilled criteria for manic-depressive disorder: All patients had experienced at least 3 episodes of mania or major depression, and all had been euthymic for at least 4 months. The median doses of lithium carbonate given were 800 mg/day or 1200 mg/every second day corresponding to median 12-h serum lithium concentrations of 0.6 mmol/l or 0.7 mmol/l, respectively. Manic or depressive relapse was defined as DSM-III-R criteria for mania or major depression, and a score > or = 10 on the Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale or the Bech-Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale, respectively. The two treatment schedules were allocated at random. Using the Cox proportional hazard model for statistical analysis, the lithium dosing schedule of every second day did not maintain its prophylactic efficacy against recurrent episodes of manic-depressive disorder. The risk of relapse increased 3 times when the interval between intake of lithium was extended from 1 to 2 days.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Urinary excretion of albumin and retinol-binding protein in lithium-treated patients: a longitudinal study.

The urinary excretion of albumin and retinol-binding protein was determined by means of sensitive immunochemical methods in a 2-year longitudinal study of 22 lithium-treated patients. During lithium treatment, there were no significant changes in the median albumin:creatinine ratios or retinol-binding protein:creatinine ratios. However, the median albumin:creatinine ratios were significantly higher in lithium-treated patients than in 22 normal subjects, which indicates that glomerular permeability is increased; no correlation with serum lithium level or duration of lithium treatment could be shown. In patients treated with slow-release tablets, the urinary excretion of albumin was significantly higher after 2 years than in patients given lithium carbonate. The median retinol-binding protein:creatinine ratios did not differ significantly between lithium-treated patients and normal subjects, suggesting that lithium does not affect the catabolism of low-molecular-weight proteins in the proximal tubules. In conclusion, the study supports the hypothesis that lithium treatment produces a small but significant and nonprogressive elevation of the urinary excretion of albumin.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Quantifying depressive symptomatology: inter-rater reliability and inter-item correlations.

In this study an evaluation of the inter-rater reliability of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Melancholia Scale and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale has been carried out. Furthermore, the inter-item correlations of these scales have been investigated in relation to diagnostic ratings. It was found that the quantitative scales had satisfactory inter-rater relationship. Only low agreement was found between the quantitative and diagnostic scales, as expected, while there was high agreement between the quantitative scales. The relevance of introducing new scales and the definition of major depression are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The effect of sodium valproate on serum cortisol levels in healthy subjects and depressed patients.

In nine healthy subjects the i.v. injection of 800 mg of the GABA-transaminase inhibitor sodium valproate (SV) was able to suppress serum cortisol significantly when compared to saline. Three and a half hours after the administration of SV, serum cortisol was reduced to less than 50% of the basal value in each of the subjects. Among 17 depressed patients serum cortisol was reduced to less than 50% of basal value 3 1/2 h after SV in only two patients. No difference was found between nine patients with endogenous depression and eight with non-endogenous depression. The dexamethasone suppression test was abnormal in four out of 17 patients. These four patients had endogenous depression, and also an abnormal response to SV. A positive correlation was found between the effect of SV on serum cortisol, and age (r = 0.55), but not between the percentual decrease of serum cortisol and the severity of depression. The effect of SV on serum cortisol was significantly less pronounced in depressed patients than in controls but no difference was found between patients with endogenous and non-endogenous depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Dexamethasone suppression test, TRH test and Newcastle II depression rating in the diagnosis of depressive disorders.

The dexamethasone suppression test (DST), the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) test and the Newcastle II depression rating (NII) were compared with the clinical diagnosis and evaluated in 61 patients fulfilling the criteria of an affective disorder according to the DSM-III classification. A statistically significant correlation between clinical diagnosis and DST as well as NII, but not between clinical diagnosis and TRH test, was found. There was no correlation between DST and the severity of depression according to the Hamilton depression rating. The nosographic and the diagnostic specificities and sensitivities for the DST, TRH test and NII and DST and NII, a nosographic sensitivity of 50% and a nosographic specificity of 84% were found. Correspondingly, the diagnostic sensitivity was 43% and the diagnostic specificity was 88%. The DST and the TRH test were found of no value in the prediction of the response to antidepressive treatment. Mainly because of a low diagnostic sensitivity the NII, the DST and the TRH test are of limited value in the diagnosis of depressive disorders.

Adult↗