Exhausted or depressed patients undergoing coronary angioplasty had higher serological markers of inflammation, including cytomegalovirus antibodies, C. pneumoniae IgG, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha.
Cross-Sectional (n=30)
Is depressive symptomatology associated with systemic and local inflammation in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty for severe angina?
Feelings of exhaustion and depression in patients with severe angina are associated with systemic serological markers of inflammation and viral reactivation.
OBJECTIVE: Many patients feel exhausted or depressed before the onset of an acute coronary event, but little is known about the origin of these feelings. We tested the hypothesis that the depressive symptomatology is associated with a reactivation of latent viruses and inflammation of a coronary vessel. METHODS: A blood sample was drawn and a biopsy sample was obtained from the coronary lesion of 15 exhausted and 15 nonexhausted patients treated with directional coronary angioplasty because of severe angina. Blood samples were analyzed to measure antibody titers against Chlamydia pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus, and the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. The biopsy sample was analyzed for the presence of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. RESULTS: Exhausted/depressed patients had higher antibody titers against cytomegalovirus, higher levels of C. pneumoniae immunoglobulin G, and higher levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. No associations between the mental state of a patient and cytokine mRNA in the biopsy sample were found. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the mental state of angioplasty patients is positively associated with serological markers of inflammation. It remains to be seen whether the inflammation causes feelings of exhaustion, whether exhaustion and depression set the stage for inflammation, or whether existing feelings of exhaustion are amplified by the inflammation.
Appels et al. (2000) conducted a cross-sectional in Coronary Artery Disease (n=30). Exhausted/depressed state vs. Nonexhausted state was evaluated on Antibody titers against C. pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus, and cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in blood and biopsy. Exhausted or depressed patients undergoing coronary angioplasty had higher serological markers of inflammation, including cytomegalovirus antibodies, C. pneumoniae IgG, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha.