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Inflammation Can't Explain Depression's Link to Heart Disease
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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 The bottom line, according to the researchers, was that while inflammation was tied to heart risk, it failed to explain most of the cardiovascular danger posed by depression.
"Despite being associated with each other, depression and inflammation predicted future events for the large part independently," the researchers wrote. "Thus, despite a clear relationship between depression and inflammation, the latter plays only a minor role in the higher risk of adverse outcomes for women with depression."
The finding is something of as surprise, said Dr. David S. Sheps, professor of medicine at the University of Florida at Gainesville, a member of the research team.
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"We know from other studies that there is a relationship between depression and elevation of certain inflammatory molecules, but no one knows for sure what the mechanism is," Sheps said.
"What is clear is that inflammation does not play a substantial role," Vaccarino said. "We need to look at other things. Perhaps there is a change in the ability of platelets to aggregate." Platelets are blood cells that can form clots to block arteries. "And there could be other pathways," she said.
More information
There's more on C-reactive protein and heart disease at the American Heart Association.
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Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Last updated 11/15/2007
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SOURCES: Viola Vaccarino, M.D., Ph.D., professor, medicine, Emory University, Atlanta; David S. Sheps, M.D., professor, medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville; November 2007 Journal of the American College of Cardiology
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