Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of the study was an assessment of concentration of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), as a marker of oxidative stress, in patients with depression and the effect of antidepressant treatment on AOPP concentration.
Methods: Thirty-one patients hospitalized at Department of Adult Psychiatry, University of Medical Sciences in Poznań were studied. According to ICD-10 criteria, the first depressive episode was diagnosed in 5 patients, recurrent depressive disorder in 6 patients, and depression in the course of bipolar affective disorder in 20 patients. Patients were treated by the following antidepressants: venlafaxine (10), paroxetine (7), fluoxetine (5), clomipramine (4), citalopram (3), sertraline (1) and mianserine (1). Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) levels were measured twice: before treatment and in remission on maintenance doses of drugs. Control group consisted of 18 healthy volunteers, age- and gender matched . Patients with diabetes, renal failure, peripherial vascular disease, status after myocardial infarction and hypertension were excluded from the study.
Results: There was no significant difference between depressed patients and healthy controls in the AOPP concentration before treatment. There was no correlation between AOPP levels and diagnosis, duration of illness, duration of the current episode and the age of illness' onset. After antidepressant treatment a significant decrease of AOPP concentration was .found.
Conclusions: The results of the study may confirm previous information suggesting a decrease of some markers of oxidative stress after antidepressant treatment.