Mild depressive symptoms are associated with elevated C-reactive protein and proinflammatory cytokine levels during early to midgestation: a prospective pilot study.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Azar, Rima Mercer, Darren
Copyright Year	2013
Abstract	Background We examined depressive symptoms, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels during early to-midgestation. Methods We measured depressive symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and serum CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels twice in 27 pregnant women. Results After adjustment, depressive symptoms prospectively (β=0.42, p<0.05 at 16–20 weeks of gestation) and concurrently (β=0.54, p<0.01 at 7–10 weeks of gestation) predicted elevated CRP [F (2, 14)=9.20, p=0.003, R2=0.57 and F (3, 15)=9.08, p=0.001, R2=0.64, respectively]. There were similar patterns of results for TNF-α (β=0.72, p<0.01) and IL-6 levels (β=0.39, p<0.05) at 7–10 weeks of gestation [F (2,19)=8.84, p=0.002, R2=0.48]. Furthermore, the association between depressive symptoms at 7–10 weeks of gestation and increased IL-6 levels at 16–20 weeks of gestation approached statistical significance. We confirmed the findings with the Wilcoxon signed rank test (IL-6: Z=2.44, p=0.015; TNF-α: Z=1.94, p=0.05; CRP: approached statistical significance). Conclusions These pilot data suggest that depressive symptoms may be associated with inflammatory markers during early to-midgestation.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC3627429&blobtype=pdf
Page Count	5
ISSN	15409996
Volume Number	22
DOI	10.1089/jwh.2012.3785
PubMed Central reference number	PMC3627429
Issue Number	4
PubMed reference number	23046044
Journal	Journal of Women's Health [J Womens Health (Larchmt)]
e-ISSN	1931843X
Language	English
Publisher	Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Publisher Date	2012-10-09
Publisher Place	USA
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	Copyright 2013, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Medicine