Fuad Lechín Corban, Venezuelan neuropharmacologist (08 August 1928 –
From Lebanese parents
Authored over 240 papers and 4 books
Developed a new treatment of bronchial asthma and myasthenia gravis
Demonstrated that drugs which enhances uptake by presynaptic serotonergic axons are potent anti-narcoleptic agents in patients resistant to methyl phenidate
First to demonstrate the antidiarrheal effect of clonidine, dihydroergotamine, and other alpha adrenergic antagonists, as well as dopaminergic blocking agents
Enunciated the adrenergic theory of schizophrenia
FOUND
That patients affected by vertigo have raised levels of free serotonin in plasma
Two types of neurochemical disorders underlying hyperkinetic children (excessive free serotonin in plasma and excessive dopaminergic activity with noradrenergic over activity)
That patients displaying post-traumatic stress disorder show total exhaustion of central noradrenergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic activity
That symptomatic asthma patients show increased plasma serotonin values
OTHERS
With B. Van der Dijs & A.E. Lechin. Tianeptine. A new exploratory therapy for asthma. Chest J. 125(1):348-9, 2004
With B. Van der Dijs. Physiological, clinical and therapeutic basis of a new hypothesis for headache. Headache 20(2):77-84, 1980
With B. Van der Dijs, E. Lechin, F. Peña & A. Bentolilla. The dopaminergic and noradrenergic blockades: a new treatment for headache. Headache 18(2):69-84, 1978
New method of investigation of exocrine secretion of the pancreas: preliminary communication. Gac. Med. Caracas 61(3-5):89-110, 1954
Un nuevo modelo de dilatador esofágico. Gen 7:1-2, 1952-3
Papers in top-journals
With B. Van der Dijs & A.E. Lechin. Tianeptine, plasma serotonin and pulmonary hypertension. Lancet 361(9351):87, 2003
Intestinal hormones and plasma insulin. Lancet 2:35-6, 1966
With B. Van der Dijs. Glucose disposal. Lancet 2:1122, 1964
HONOURS
Medicine and Physiology Nobel Prize nominee (2001)
2000 Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century, International Biographic Centre (2000)
500 Leaders of Influence, American Biographical Institute (2000)