Serotonin
Sample: Whole EDTA blood (See instructions)
Schedule: Once a week (HPLC)
Units: nmol/1E9 platelets
Range: Up to 7.0
Remarks: Most Serotonin in blood is concentrated in the platelets and releases when platelets aggregate. Serotonin is used to diagnose carcinoid syndrome which includes vasomotor instability, diarrhaea, hepatomegaly and endocardial lesions.The carcinoid syndrome is caused by primary carcinoids of the ileum and occasionally by primary carcinoids of the stomach. On the other hand, Serotonin plays important role in psychiatric disorders as anxiety, depression to schizophrenia, obsesive compulsive disorder, aggression, bulimia, and disorders of childhood.
