On the issue of biological markers of efficiency of therapy of mental and neurologic diseases

The aim of the study was to summarize our and literature data on the searching biological markers of mental and neurologic diseases. We considered platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity as a potential biomarker. Investigation of the first episode of schizophrenia and anxious depression showed that platelet MAO activity could serve as potential biomarker of the efficiency of pharmacotherapy of these disorders. Increase of MAO activity in the acute period (4-5 days) after ischemic insult was considered as a compensatory reaction directed at the recovery of neurologic functions whereas increase of MAO activity 4-5 months after the insult was connected with pronounced disturbances of neurologic functions. Thus platelet MAO activity could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker of the outcome of the ischemic insult.