Authors: Ozden Arısoy Cemal Bes Cigdem Cifci Mustafa Sercan Mehmet Soy
Publish Date: 2013/01/20
Volume: 33, Issue: 7, Pages: 1855-1864
Abstract
There is a high comorbidity between chronic inflammatory disorders and depression Proinflammatory cytokines like TNFα seem to play a central role in the pathogenesis of these disorders and its neutralization provides a potent treatment for inflammatory disorders Few studies showed that TNFα blockers also caused an improvement in depressive symptoms associated with these chronic inflammatory disorders To evaluate the effectiveness of TNFα blockers on symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis AS depression anxiety and quality of life 9 AS patients resistant to classical therapy were enrolled and followedup at 2nd and 6th weeks after a TNFα blocker was started Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales HAMD HAMA Hospital Depression and Anxiety Questionnaire HAD Quality of Life Scale SF36 and AS severity index BASDAI were applied to the patients at weeks 0 2 and 6 ESR and CRP were evaluated to monitor biological disease activity There was a significant reduction in HAMD p = 000 HAMA p = 000 HAD anxiety scores p = 002 and a significant improvement in SF36 physical function p = 000 physical role limitations p = 000 bodily pain p = 005 general health p = 001 vitality p = 003 and emotional role limitations p = 000 subscales BASDAI scores p = 000 ESR p = 000 and CRP p = 000 Change in clinical disease activity BASDAI was not correlated with change in depression–anxiety scores while change in biological disease activity CRP was correlated with change in depression–anxiety scores TNFα blockers may have a potential antidepressant effect besides its antiinflammatory effect that seems to be independent of its clinical effect
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