Maternal depression and risk for postpartum complications: Role of prenatal corticotropin-releasing hormone and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist

The pregnancies of 58 healthy adolescents (ages 13 to 19 years) were follow ed to examine links between symptoms of depression, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), interleukin-1 beta, (IL-1 beta), and IL-1 receptor antagoni st (IL-Ira) as possible predictors of maternal and infant outcomes. Materna l psychological adjustment and medical complications during gestation, labo r delivery, and the postpartum period were monitored. Plasma samples collec ted during gestation were assayed for CRH, IL-1 beta, and IL-1ra. During ge station, symptoms of maternal depression were found to be associated with l ower levels of CRH; lower levels of CRH were associated with lower levels o f IL-1ra. In addition, lower revels of IL-1ra predicted higher rates of mat ernal complications after childbirth. IL-IP, detected in only 4 mothers, wa s not associated with any predictor or outcome measures. During gestation, CRH may induce circulating cytokine inhibitors without significantly affect ing cytokine production or synthesis. Maternal symptoms of depression durin g gestation may attenuate the association between CRH and IL-1ra.