Metabolic syndrome and C-reactive protein in patients with depressive disorder on antidepressive medication.
BACKGROUND
Recurrent depression is a psychiatric disorder of which etiology and pathogenesis might be related to immune response. Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and its components are also strongly associated with elevated inflammatory indicators, as so as the body mass index (BMI) and total cholesterol levels.


OBJECTIVE
Objective of this study was to investigate if there was any difference in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with recurrent depressive disorder, treated with antidepressants, compared to a healthy control group of subjects and if there was an association between increased CRP levels and the presence of MetS in these two groups.


METHODS
Sixty subjects entered the study; of these 35 patients with the diagnosis of recurrent depressive disorder, while the healthy control group included 25 subjects. MetS was defined according to the NCEP ATP III criteria. The cut-off point for CRP was set at > 5 mg/L.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of MetS and CRP values between the studied groups. Waist circumference and total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the experimental group. Patients that fulfilled the criteria for MetS showed significantly higher values of central obesity and arterial hypertension in the experimental group as well. The elevated CRP levels were associated with increased frequency of MetS in depressed patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Both CRP levels and metabolic risk profile screening, according to the international criteria, may be beneficial in order to obtain better assessment for depressive long-term medicated patients.
Special Hospital for Mental Disorders "Gornja Toponica", Nis, Serbia.
Albina
A
Stanojević
Irena
I
Popović
Milutin
M
Nenadović
Dragan
D
Ravanić
Gordana
G
Paunović-Milosavljević
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein