No evidence for an anti-inflammatory effect of escitalopram intervention in
healthy individuals with a family history of depression.
Author(s): Haastrup E, Knorr U, Erikstrup C, Kessing LV, Ullum H.
Affiliation(s): Department of Clinical Immunology, Blood Bank, National University Hospital,
Copenhagen, Denmark. rh13966@rh.regionh.dk
Publication date & source: 2012, J Neuroimmunol. , 243(1-2):69-72
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.
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