Effect of serum cytokine levels on the efficacy of modified electroconvulsive therapy for major depressive disorder

QIAO Yunshuan; LIU Haiyan; LI Li

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-7386.2024.21.019

Abstract：Objective To observe the changes in serum levels of cytokines during the modified electroconvulsive therapy(MECT)for major depressive disorder(MDD)and their correlation with the efficacy.Methods A total of 100 MDD patients from October 2021 to September 2022 were included in our study.Before and 1,2 and 4 weeks after MECT,serum interleukin 1β(IL-1β),IL-2,IL-6、IL-8、and TNF-α were measured.Disease condition was assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD).evaluate the treatment effect.According to the HAMD reduction rate,MDD patients were divided into effective group and ineffective group.Results In the effective group,serum IL-1β significantly decreased at 1,2 and 4 weeks of MECT(P＜0.05),while serum IL-2 did not significantly decrease at 1 and 2 weeks(P＞0.05),but significantly decreased at 4 weeks(P＜0.05).In the ineffective group,serum IL-1β and IL-2 did not significantly decrease(P＞0.05).Serum IL-6 significantly increased at 1 and 2 weeks of MECT in both groups,which was more pronounced in the effective group than the ineffective group(P＜0.05).Serum IL-6 was significantly reduced at 4 weeks in both groups,and more pronounced in the effective group than the ineffective group(P＜0.05).Serum IL-8 significantly increased at 1,2 and 4 weeks of MECT in both groups,which was more pronounced in the effective group than the ineffective group(P＜0.05).In the ineffective group,no significant difference in serum IL-8 was detected between 2 weeks and 4 weeks(P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum IL-1 β significantly decreases in the early stage of MECT,whereas serum IL-2 and IL-6 significantly decrease with the prolongation of MECT.An early measurement of serum IL-1β is able to predict the efficacy of MECT.A higher increase rate of IL-8 predicts a better efficacy of MECT on MDD patients.