POLYMORPHONUCLEAR (PMN) ELASTASE LEVELS IN DEPRESSIVE-DISORDERS

The present study was carried out to determine polymorphonuclear (PMN) elastase levels and to explain whether or not altered levels may be a factor in depression. The patient group included a total of 68 patien ts with depression (32 with major depression, 36 with dysthymia). The control group included 40 volunteer, healthy subjects. WBC, erythrocyt e sedimentation rate (ESR), immunogloblins (Ig A, Ig G, IgM), and comp lements (C3 and C4) levels of the patient and control groups were dete rmined The mean PMN elastase levels, determined by immunoactivation me thod, in patients with major depression without and with melancholia, dysthymia and healthy subjects were found to be 99.5 (10.8) mu g/L [ar ithmetic mean (SEM)] 289.0 (71.3) mu g/L, 55.7(5.5) mu g/L, and 47.3(2 .6) mu g/L, respectively. The mean PMN elastase level was found to be statistically higher in patients with depression, especially in patien ts with major depression, than that of healthy subjects, It was conclu ded that severe depression is associated with immunological and inflam matory alterations and the alterations may be showed easily by PMN ela stase measurements.