TY - JOUR TI - Inflammation and post-stroke depression DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3XK8J00 PY - 2017 AB - Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has been associated with elevations in circulating inflammatory cytokines. In addition, a subset of AIS patients can develop clinically significant depression (post-stroke depression [PSD]), which can compromise recovery and increase recurrence of stroke. The cytokines, interleukin­1β (IL­1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and interleukin­6 (IL­6) are known to have neuromodulatory effects, including the induction of behavioral changes similar to depressive symptomatology. Moreover, increased circulating levels of these cytokines – in particular, IL­6 ­ have been observed in depressed individuals. Therefore, it is possible that the development of PSD may similarly be associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines. In the current study, we recruited 25 AIS patients and assessed executive cognition, clinical depression, and circulating IL­1β, TNFα and IL­6. Each of these variables was measured at three time points following admission for AIS: (A) 1­2 days, (B) 5­7 days, and (C) 90 days. Depression was assessed throughout using the Hamilton Depression Scale and Beck Depression Inventory, as well as a structured diagnostic interview for depression (SCID) on Day 90. Cognitive functioning was measured using the RBANS. Additional repeated measures of functional and neurological status were obtained using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Of those patients that completed all three time points (n=22), six showed detectable levels of plasma IL­6 within seven days of AIS. A further three patients (13.6%) showed evidence for PSD at Day 90, but none of these had detectable IL­6 at any time point. Contrary to expectations, no patients, at any time point, had detectable plasma levels of TNFα or IL­1β. Based on evidence that IL­6 may be neuroprotective in animal studies of stroke, the current findings, although based on a small cohort of patients, lend themselves to the novel hypothesis that failure to generate plasma IL­6 elevations after AIS is associated with PSD and poor cognitive recovery. KW - Psychology KW - Depression, Mental KW - Medical rehabilitation KW - Cerebrovascular disease KW - Inflammation LA - eng ER -