Depression Worsens Heart Disease
September 14, 2005
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- According to new research, depression may actually hasten the progression of heart disease by increasing levels of a key protein that causes inflammation, making it more difficult for the heart to pump blood.
In a study from Ohio State University in Columbus, 14 of 32 heart failure patients who were highly depressed had nearly twice the levels of the protein called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).
Researchers say, "People with heart failure typically have much higher TNF-alpha levels than people without the disease. But depression seems to make levels ... even higher, which is bad for patients."
TNF-alpha is one member of a large family of proteins called cytokines, which often cause inflammation in an effort to repair an injured or infected area of the body. Researchers were surprised to find the levels of two other cytokines were not significantly higher in the most depressed patients. They say, "That suggests that something about depression may trigger the production of TNF-alpha."
However, researchers say, "What we don't know for sure is if depression causes the inflammation, which may lead to heart failure or if heart failure causes depression, which accelerates inflammation."
The next step would be to determine if antidepressants could actually slow the progression of heart disease in patients.
SOURCE: American Heart Journal, 2005;150:132-136
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