TOTAL SERUM-PROTEIN AND SERUM-PROTEIN FRACTIONS IN DEPRESSION - RELATIONSHIPS TO DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND GLUCOCORTICOID ACTIVITY

Recently, it has been reported that major depression is accompanied by changes in plasma protein concentrations indicative of an acute-phase protein (APP) response. The purpose of the present study was to exami ne total serum protein (TSP) and the electrophoretically separated maj or fractions of serum proteins (SP), i.e., albumin (Alb), alpha(1), al pha(2), beta and gamma globulin, in depression. Highly significant dif ferences were found in TSP and the separated SP fractions between majo r depressed patients and normal controls and between melancholic and m inor depressed patients. Major depressed subjects showed significantly lower TSP and Alb concentrations and a higher percentage of the alpha (1), globulin fraction than normal controls and minor depressed subjec ts. Major depressed subjects had significantly higher and lower percen tages, respectively, of alpha(2), and gamma globulin fractions than no rmal controls. In depressed subjects, there were significant negative correlations between TSP or Alb concentrations and severity of illness . Psychomotor retardation and anorexia were psychopathological correla tes of lower TSP and Alb concentrations while middle insomnia and psyc homotor retardation were related to changes in the alpha(1), and alpha (2) globulin fractions. Basal plasma cortisol values were significantl y and positively related to serum alpha(2), globulin. The results supp ort the view that major depression is accompanied by an APP response.