Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) serum concentrations in depressed patients: relationship to saliva cortisol and changes during antidepressant treatment.
BACKGROUND
The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that total and free insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) serum concentrations in depressed patients are related to hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system activity and show a longitudinal decline in patients responding to treatment as well as to declining HPA system activity.


METHODS
We measured total and free IGF-I as well as IGF-binding protein-3 in 77 depressed patients after wash-out of pre-medication and again after 28 or 35 days of treatment with paroxetine or amitriptyline.


RESULTS
Total but not free IGF-I serum concentrations are related to saliva cortisol concentrations in drug-free depressed patients. In responders to both amitriptyline and paroxetine, total IGF-I serum concentrations declined during treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show IGF-I to be related to HPA system activity and to decline in responders to treatment while serum concentrations of the biologically active free IGF-I are neither related to HPA system activity nor do they change during the course of treatment. Our data do not support the hypothesis that free IGF-I may play a major role in physical disturbances in depressed patients.
Weber-Hamann
B
B
Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany. bettina.hamann@zi-mannheim.de
Blum
W F
WF
Kratzsch
J
J
Gilles
M
M
Heuser
I
I
Deuschle
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D006854:Hydrocortisone