The association between major depression and levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein in patients with recent acute coronary syndromes.

This study was conducted to determine whether or not depression is associated with higher levels of inflammatory markers in patients recovering from acute coronary syndromes. Plasma levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the serum level of C-reactive protein were measured in 481 patients 2 months after hospitalization for acute coronary syndromes. Diagnosis of major depression was based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Depressed patients showed significantly higher sICAM-1 levels, a difference that remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders (gender, smoking, presence of metabolic syndrome). Although there was no significant association between depression and IL-6, there was an interaction between depression and statin therapy for levels of C-reactive protein. Depressed patients not taking statins had markedly higher C-reactive protein levels than did nondepressed patients. There was no relationship with depression in those receiving statins. These results suggest chronic endothelial activation among depressed patients after acute coronary syndromes. Further research is needed to determine whether or not higher levels of sICAM-1 may identify a subgroup of depressed patients at particularly high risk for cardiac events among patients with established coronary artery disease or among those without previous coronary artery disease.