title: Influence of fluvoxamine on plasma interleukin-6 or clinical improvement in patients with major depressive disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The etiology of depression remains unknown. There is, however, a growing body of evidence that cytokines are involved in the pathophysiology of depression. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of fluvoxamine on plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and on clinical improvement of the depressive state.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients who met theDSM-IVcriteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) were enrolled in the study. Thirteen were male and 17 were female, and their ages ranged from 26 to 70 years (mean ± standard deviation 45.0±14.2). The patients were treated with fluvoxamine for 8 weeks. The dosages of fluvoxamine varied among the patients and, based on ethical considerations, were not fixed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fluvoxamine doses were positively related to plasma fluvoxamine levels (r=0.8798,P<0.001). A significant correlation was observed between the patients' plasma IL-6 levels and their 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD17) scores (r=0.4555,P=0.0010). A positive correlation was found between the delta plasma IL-6 (week 0-week 8) and the delta HAMD17 (week 0-week 8) (r=0.5226,P=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effect of fluvoxamine on IL-6 is partially associated with its clinical efficacy for MDD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Reiji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katsuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyokazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Atake
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryohei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Igata
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Konishi
keywords: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression; fluvoxamine; interleukin; major depressive disorder