Reiji Yoshimura
We investigated the association between the plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) level and response to Serotonin Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients. Patients with MDD diagnosed by DSM-IV-TR (M/F: 45/52, mean age 48 years) were enrolled in the present study. All participants were treated by monotherapy of duloxetine (n=48) or milnacipran (n=49). The end-point of the present study was week 8. Patients whose HAMD17 scores decreased 50% or more were defined as responders; others were considered nonresponders. Blood was drawn at baseline and 8 weeks after the treatment. Plasma levels of IL-6 were measured. Plasma IL6 at week 0 was higher in the responder group than in the nonresponders group. Plasma IL6 level in the responder group significantly decreased 8 weeks after treatment with antidepressant. These results suggest that plasma IL-6 is related to the response to SNRIs in MDD patients.
