title: IL-6 levels decrease with SSRI treatment in patients with major depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some evidence indicates that an immune response with an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines often accompanies major depression. The objective of this study was to examine the serum levels of IL-6 in patients with major depression and the changes occurring in IL-6 levels during treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive disorder and 23 healthy matched controls were included in the study. The severity of depression was measured with the Hamilton rating scale for depression. Blood samples for IL-6 levels were obtained at baseline and at week 6 of treatment and IL-6 concentrations were evaluated using a solid phase sandwich enzyme immunoassay. All patients were treated with an SSRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IL-6 levels showed no statistically significant difference between the patients and the controls at baseline. However, IL-6 levels after treatment with SSRIs were significantly lower compared with the baseline IL-6 levels of both the patients and the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that proinflammatory cytokines show some changes during the course of treatment of major depression. These findings might also be considered as supporting the hypothesis of a modulatory role of antidepressants on the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Mersin University School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey. adcingi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ayse Devrim
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Basterzi
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aydemir
authors.forename: Cebrail
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kisa
authors.forename: Sabahat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aksaray
authors.forename: Verda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tuzer
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Göka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors