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Effects of intrathecal thyrotropin-releasing hormone (protirelin) in refractory depressed patients 19th Collegium-Internationale-Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum Congress Marangell, L. B., George, M. S., Callahan, A. M., Ketter, T. A., Pazzaglia, P. J., LHerrou, T. A., Leverich, G. S., Post, R. M. AMER MEDICAL ASSOC. 1997: 214–22

Abstract

Therapeutic effects of the tripeptide protirelin (thyrotropin-releasing hormone) have been postulated in the affective disorders, but direct assessment in humans has been hindered by poor blood-brain barrier permeability.Eight medication-free inpatients with refractory depression received 500 micrograms of protirelin via a lumbar intrathecal injection and an identical sham lumbar puncture procedure, separated by 1 week, in a double-blind crossover design.Five of eight patients responded to intrathecal protirelin, defined as a 50% or greater reduction in an abbreviated Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score. Suicidality also was reduced significantly (P < .05). Responses were rapid and clinically robust, but short-lived.Administration of protirelin by an intrathecal route induced a rapid improvement in mood and suicidality in these refractory depressed patients, supporting the hypothesis that thyrotropin-releasing hormone could be a positive modulator of mood.

View details for Web of Science ID A1997WP35500004

View details for PubMedID 9075462