title: No evidence for an anti-inflammatory effect of escitalopram intervention in healthy individuals with a family history of depression.
abstract: Inflammation may contribute to the pathogenesis of depression and antidepressants are hypothesised to have an anti-inflammatory effect. In this randomised double-blinded trial we investigated the cytokine levels in supernatants of stimulated whole blood samples from first degree relatives to patients with depression randomised to a single daily dose of either 10mg escitalopram or placebo for four weeks. No significant differences were found in any of the cytokine levels between the participants treated with escitalopram (n=21) or placebo (n=23). Our data does thus not support the hypothesis of a global anti-inflammatory effect of escitalopram on cytokines in healthy subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Immunology, Blood Bank, National University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. rh13966@rh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haastrup
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Knorr
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Erikstrup
authors.forename: Lars Vedel
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Kessing
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ullum
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005192:Family Health; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D054813:Polyhydroxyalkanoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D054813:Polyhydroxyalkanoates; D015283:Citalopram