Raised plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha in patients with depression: normalization during electroconvulsive therapy

J ECT. 2003 Dec;19(4):183-8. doi: 10.1097/00124509-200312000-00002.

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) could modulate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha levels in patients with depressive disorders.

Method: Plasma levels of TNFalpha were analyzed in 23 depressed patients, mainly with severe depressive disorders, and in 15 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Fifteen depressed patients were followed longitudinally with measurement of TNFalpha before, during, and after repeated ECT treatment. For comparison, TNFalpha levels were also analyzed longitudinally in the 8 depressed patients not receiving ECT.

Results: Patients with depressive disorders had markedly raised TNFalpha levels compared with healthy controls. The clinical improvement during repeated ECT was accompanied by a gradual and significant decline in TNFalpha level, reaching levels comparable with those in healthy controls at the end of the study. Such a decline was not seen in the depressed patients not receiving ECT, who instead showed raised TNFalpha levels throughout the study period.

Conclusion: Our findings support an association between inflammation and TNFalpha in particular and severe depression, and suggest that ECT may down-regulate this immune activation.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers / analysis*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Depressive Disorder / immunology
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy*
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / analysis*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha