Sympathetic activity in major depressive disorder: identifying those at increased cardiac risk?
BACKGROUND
Evidence exists linking major depressive disorder (MDD) with clinical cardiovascular events. The importance of the sympathetic nervous system in the generation of cardiac risk in other contexts is established.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the importance of the sympathetic nervous system in the generation of cardiac risk in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).


METHODS
Studies were performed in 39 patients meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) criteria for MDD and in 76 healthy subjects. Treatment for patients consisted of selective serotonin reuptake inhibition (SSRI) for 12 weeks. Whole body and cardiac sympathetic activity were examined using noradrenaline isotope dilution methodology and sympathetic nerve recording techniques. Measurement of the extraction of infused tritiated noradrenaline by the heart, and estimation of cardiac dihydroxyphenylglycol production provided direct quantification of neuronal noradrenaline reuptake.


RESULTS
Sympathetic activity, particularly in the heart and for the whole body, in patients with MDD followed a bimodal distribution. Elevated values were observed in patients with co-morbid panic disorder (P = 0.006). Consistent with a defect in noradrenaline reuptake, the cardiac extraction of tritiated noradrenaline (0.80 +/- 0.01 versus 0.56 +/- 0.04%, P < 0.001) and cardiac dihydroxyphenylglycol overflow (109 +/- 8 versus 73 +/- 11, P = 0.01) were reduced in patients with MDD. SSRI therapy abolished the excessive sympathetic activation, with whole body noradrenaline spillover falling from 518 +/- 83 to 290 +/- 41 ng/min (P = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
We have identified a subset of patients with MDD in whom sympathetic nervous activity is extraordinarily high, including in the sympathetic outflow to the heart. Treatment with an SSRI may reduce sympathetic activity in a manner likely to reduce cardiac risk.
Barton
David A
DA
Human Neurotransmitter Laboratory, Australia. gavin.lambert@baker.edu.au
Dawood
Tye
T
Lambert
Elisabeth A
EA
Esler
Murray D
MD
Haikerwal
Deepak
D
Brenchley
Celia
C
Socratous
Florentia
F
Kaye
David M
DM
Schlaich
Markus P
MP
Hickie
Ian
I
Lambert
Gavin W
GW
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*
D009638:Norepinephrine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors