Blood markers can predict depression in pregnancy

Date:
January 26, 2022
Source:
Van Andel Research Institute
Summary:
Signs of inflammation in the blood reliably predict and identify
severe depression in pregnancy, reports a new study.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Signs of inflammation in the blood reliably predict and identify severe depression in pregnancy, reports a new study led by scientists at Van
Andel Institute and Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.


==========================================================================
The team's analysis established a set of 15 biological markers found in
the blood that can predict if pregnant women will experience significant depressive symptoms with 83% accuracy. The findings could give physicians
a much-needed tool to identify women who may be at risk for depression
and better tailor their care throughout pregnancy.

Nearly one in five new mothers experience severe depression during or
after pregnancy and an estimated 14% have suicidal thoughts. Inflammation
can lead to worsening depressive symptoms, and pregnancy is a major inflammatory event.

"Depression isn't just something that happens in the brain -- its
fingerprints are everywhere in the body, including in our blood," said
Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D., a VAI professor and co-senior author of the
study. "The ability to predict pregnancy-related depression and its
severity will be a gamechanger for protecting the health of mothers
and their infants. Our findings are an important leap forward toward
this goal." The study, published today in Translational Psychiatry,
is among the first of its kind and followed 114 volunteers from
Spectrum Health's Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics throughout their pregnancies. Participants provided blood samples and underwent clinical evaluations for depressive symptoms in each trimester and the postpartum period.

"Having an objective and easily accessible method associated with
depression risk, such as a blood test, provides a unique tool for
helping identify women who may develop depression during pregnancy,"
said Eric Achtyes, M.D., M.S., staff psychiatrist at Pine Rest, an
associate professor at Michigan State University and co-senior author of
the study. "Our findings are an exciting development and an important
first step toward using these types of methods more widely to help
patients. Our next steps include replicating the results in additional
patient samples to verify cut-offs for depression risk." Co-authors on
the study include Qiong Sha, Ph.D., Zach Madaj, M.S., Sarah Keaton,
Ph.D., Martha L. Escobar Galvis, Ph.D., and Stanislaw Krzyzanowski of
VAI; LeAnn Smart of Pine Rest; Asgerally T. Fazleabas, Ph.D., and Richard Leach, M.D., of Michigan State University College of Human Medicine; and
Teodor T. Postolache, M.D., of University of Maryland School of Medicine.

special promotion Explore the latest scientific research on sleep and
dreams in this free online course from New Scientist -- Sign_up_now_>>> ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Van_Andel_Research_Institute. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Qiong Sha, Zach Madaj, Sarah Keaton, Martha L Escobar Galvis, LeAnn
Smart, Stanislaw Krzyzanowski, Asgerally T. Fazleabas,
Richard Leach, Teodor T. Postolache, Eric D. Achtyes, Lena
Brundin. Cytokines and tryptophan metabolites can predict depressive
symptoms in pregnancy.

Translational Psychiatry, 2022; 12 (1) DOI:
10.1038/s41398-022-01801-8 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220126122413.htm

--- up 7 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours, 13 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)