132. Inflammatory markers and depression in pregnancy: Results of the viral immunity in pregnancy study

• Published in: Brain, behavior, and immunity behavior, and immunity, 2014-09, Vol.40, p.e38-e39
• Main Authors: Osborne, L.M, Fei, K, Kraus, T, Moran, T, Monk, C, Sperling, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Psychiatry
• ISSN: 0889-1591; 1090-2139
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.06.152

Perinatal depression affects up to 15% of women in the developed world. Recent research indicates that immune dysregulation may play a role in its etiology, though many studies are based on one-time assessments of a few markers. We undertook a secondary data analysis of the Viral Immunity in Pregnancy Study (serial assays of 24 cytokines, n = 49). Forty-four percent of subjects were African American, 50% Latina; 57% overweight or obese; and 25% depressed at entry (Beck Depression Inventory 1A (BDI) score ⩾10). Pearson correlation coefficients between BDI scores and those cytokine levels that were at or approaching significance were: 1st trimester, IL4 0.24 ( p = 0.09), IL6 0.27 ( p = 0.06); 2nd trimester, GMCSF 0.32 ( p = 0.04), IL10 0.36 ( p = 0.02); 3rd trimester, IL1-β 0.36 ( p = 0.02), IL6 0.50 ( p = 0.001), IL8 0.34 ( p = 0.03). Mixed linear models were built to account for the repeated measures over time of this longitudinal study. The positive correlation between IL6 and BDI score remained significant over time ( p = 0.02), even after controlling for age, pre-pregnancy BMI, and asthma status. These results support past research showing an association between inflammatory markers and mild to moderate depression in pregnancy, with particular evidence in this sample for IL6.