No interaction between plasma IL-6 and MHPG in major depression treated with paroxetine

Abstract

We investigated the plasma levels of MHPG, a metabolite of noradrenaline or IL-6, and the clinical response to paroxetine in major depression (MD). Twenty-eight patients who met the MD criteria as per DSM-5 were enrolled in this study (age 42 ​± ​8 years; male/female 15/13; single-/repeated-episode 12/16). The plasma levels of MHPG were not altered before or four weeks after paroxetine treatment. Plasma levels of IL-6 were significantly decreased 4 weeks after paroxetine treatment. The HAMD scores significantly decreased after paroxetine treatment. No correlation was found between changes in plasma MHPG and changes in HAMD scores before and 4 weeks after paroxetine treatment. No interaction was observed between plasma MGPH and plasma IL-6 in patients with MD treated with paroxetine. • Plasma levels of IL-6 were significantly decreased 4 weeks after paroxetine treatment. The HAMD scores significantly decreased after paroxetine treatment. • No correlation was found between changes in plasma MHPG or IL-6 and changes in the HAMD scores before and 4 weeks after paroxetine treatment. • No interaction was observed between plasma MGPH and plasma IL-6 in patients with MD treated with paroxetine.