title: Effects of antidepressants on weight and on the plasma levels of leptin, TNF-alpha and soluble TNF receptors: A longitudinal study in patients treated with amitriptyline or paroxetine.
abstract: Leptin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and soluble TNF receptors are involved in weight regulation. Antipsychotic agents, such as clozapine, induce weight gain and increase circulating levels of these cytokines. To assess whether obesity-inducing antidepressants have a similar effect, we measured plasma cytokine levels in depressive inpatients during the first six weeks of treatment with tricyclic agents (amitriptyline or nortriptyline, n = 12), with paroxetine (n = 10), or without medication (n = 14). There was an increase in the body mass index at week 6 of treatment with the tricyclics, which was preceded by a significant increase in soluble TNF receptor p75 plasma levels. Circulating levels of leptin were not affected. Paroxetine and drug-free treatment did not affect any of these parameters. We conclude that weight gain induced by psychotropic agents may occur without increased circulating levels of leptin. However, activation of the TNF-alpha system might be an early and sensitive marker of ensuing weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hinze-Selch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schuld
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uhr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haack
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pollmächer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; C515448:LEPR protein, human; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000639:Amitriptyline; D017374:Paroxetine; D009661:Nortriptyline