The influence of low arylsulfatase A activity on neuropsychiatric morbidity: a large-scale screening in patients

Propping, Peter; Friedl, Waltraut; Huschka, M.; Schlör, K. H.; Reimer, F; Lee-Vaupel, M.; Conzelmann, Ernst; Sandhoff, Konrad

doi:10.1007/bf00282542

Cited by 38 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…This finding corresponds with literature data, which suggest that low ASA activity might be present in psychiatric patients, especially in the group of schizophrenics [11][12][13][14]. As we know, the frequency of low ASA activity in groups of major depressed and demented patients has not been investigated before.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…ASA takes part in the metabolism of sulphatides, which, in turn, play a role in the generation of opiate receptors and binding sites for GABA and serotonin [12]. Once we know the role of serotonin, GABA and opiate receptors in the aetiology of depression, we may suppose that low ASA activity might play a role in the development of depressive symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This fact has stimulated studies of the ASA activity in psychiatric patients. The results of a number of studies suggest that ASA deficiency might be present in psychiatric populations [11][12][13][14]. The meaning of these data is not clear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The meaning of these data is not clear. The presence of low ASA activity in adult psychiatric patients may thus serve as another example of vulnerability to mental illness based on intermediate levels of enzyme deficiency [12]. However, there are individuals with low ASA activity without any clinical symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Low Arylsulphatase A Activity in the Development of Psychiatric Disorders

Mihaljević-Peleš

Jakovljević²,

Milicevic³

et al. 2001

Neuropsychobiology

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Previous studies have suggested that arylsulphatase A (ASA) deficiency may be present in psychiatric patients. A number of patients with low ASA activity and various neuropsychiatric symptoms have been observed. Metachromatic leucodystrophy (MLD) is a disease caused by deficiency of the enzyme ASA. Clinically, adult MLD may present as a schizophrenia-like psychosis, deterioration of cognitive functions, personality changes, depression and dementia. However, there are individuals with low ASA activity without clinical symptoms of MLD. This state is described as ASA pseudodeficiency. It remains controversial whether low ASA activity predisposes to or influences the development of psychiatric symptoms. Relatively little attention has been paid to the role of neurodegenerative processes in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. The hypothesis underlying this work is that there is a subclass of mentally ill patients whose psychiatric problems are at least partly caused by an abnormal ASA. The purpose of this particular study was to determine whether an abnormal ASA could be detected in schizoprenic, major depressed and demented patients and control subjects. There were 66 schizophrenic, 59 major depressed and 61 demented patients. The control group consisted of 102 healthy volunteers. Leucocyte ASA activity was determined from blood samples, using p-nitrocatechol sulphate as substrate. Our results show that low ASA activity is more frequently found in psychiatric patients than in control subjects. Our findings indicate that clinical types of major depression and schizophrenia could be connected with low ASA activity. The presence of a decreased ASA activity points to the conclusion that an enzyme deficit entails vulnerability to psychiatric disorders.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Low Arylsulphatase A Activity in the Development of Psychiatric Disorders

Mihaljević-Peleš

Jakovljević²,

Milicevic³

et al. 2001

Neuropsychobiology

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“…Although mental deterioration is a very early symptom, it is not always easily detected when associated to behavioral disturbances. Although some authors have mentioned the relative frequency of these patients in adult chronic psychiatric departments [26], their appearance in a general adult schizophrenic [27] or neuropsychiatrie [28] population is negligible. Never theless, this etiology must be kept in mind, especially if there is a notion of familial psychiatric or neurological disease.…”

Section: Behavioral a Bnormalitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult Forms of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy: Clinical and Biochemical Approach

et al. 1991

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The clinical and biochemical characteristics of metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), true adult forms and late juvenile forms which are still living at adulthood, are reviewed as they both are observed in adult Neurology and Psychiatry departments. Mental deterioration is often the first symptom, evolving progressively; and dementia finally occurs. The latency before the appearance of neurological objective symptoms may be long and extend for several years. In many cases, the behavioral abnormalities are the first symptoms. Some of these forms have been diagnosed as schizophrenia. Very seldom, neurological symptoms, especially ataxia, occur without cognitive or psychiatric disturbances. Most of these cases have pyramidal and cerebellar symptoms, at diverse degrees. Seizures can also occur which in some cases can be early symptoms associated to mental deterioration. The association of central and peripheral neurological symptoms is very characteristic of MLD. The peripheral neuropathy is not generally clinically evidenced, but is rarely-missing electrophysiologically. Arylsulfatase A determination should be performed for diagnosis as a first step, and confirmed by the accumulation of sulfatide, either by quantitative determinations in urine or by the sulfatide loading test. It is as yet not clear why certain forms have a rather rapid evolution in 5 years, and others have a very protracted course during decades.

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