
@Article{ecn.2013.0326,
AUTHOR = {Mohammad Taraz, Mohammad-Reza Khatami, Afshin Gharekhani, Alireza Abdollahi, Hossein Khalili, Simin Dashti-Khavidaki},
TITLE = {Relationship between a pro- and anti-inﬂammatory cytokine imbalance and depression in haemodialysis patients},
JOURNAL = {European Cytokine Network},
VOLUME = {23},
YEAR = {2012},
NUMBER = {4},
PAGES = {179--186},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/ECN/v23n4/65693},
ISSN = {1952-4005},
ABSTRACT = {Aim: Depression represents the most frequent psychiatric disorder in patients on maintenance
haemodialysis (HD), and it might be associated with secretion of inﬂammatory cytokines. In this study, we explore
the possible correlations between depression and pro-inﬂammatory (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), anti-inﬂammatory
(IL-10) cytokines, as well as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) serum levels.Methods: Eighty three HD
patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression
Inventory (BDI), and ‘elevated symptoms of depression’ were deﬁned as a BDI score of ≥16. Biochemical parameters
(serum albumin, haemoglobin, ferritin, etc.) and dialysis dosage delivery (kt/v) were assessed. Serum IL-1β,
IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and hs-CRP levels were measured using an ELISA method. Thirty two, healthy, age- and
sex-matched individuals were included as the control group.Results: The prevalence of depression in HD patients
was 61.4%. HD Patients with symptoms of depression had lower educational levels compared to non-depressed
ones (P = 0.02), but did not differ with respect to age, gender, time on dialysis program, marital status, or smoking
habits. Depressed patients also had signiﬁcantly higher serum levels of IL-6, the IL-6-to-IL-10 ratio, as well as
lower haemoglobin levels (P = 0.003, P = 0.002, and P = 0.02 respectively). No differences in mean serum IL-1β,
IL-10, TNF-α, or hs-CRP concentrations were noted between the two groups. The BDI scores showed a signiﬁcant,
positive correlation with serum levels of IL-1β (P = 0.03), IL-6 (P = 0.001), TNF-α (P = 0.02), the IL-6-to-IL-10 ratio
(P = 0.001), and a negative correlation with haemoglobin levels (P = 0.02).Conclusions: Maintenance HD patients
with symptoms of depression may have higher serum levels of IL-6, a IL-6-to-IL-10 ratio, and lower haemoglobin
concentrations. An imbalance between pro- and anti-inﬂammatory cytokines may play an important role in the
pathogenesis of depression in HD patients.},
DOI = {10.1684/ecn.2013.0326}
}



