Abstract:

Increasing evidence reveals that depression is emerging as an independent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor. We investigated whether treating depression with seratonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) would effect echocardiographic systolic and diastolic functions, in addition endothelial function and arterial stiffnes indexes which are known CVD risk factors Fourtyone patients who were prescribed SSRI therapy for the first time due to major depression without known CVD and between 16-65 years of age were included. At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of SSRI therapy patients were underwent echocardiographic analysis of systolic and diastolic parameters, myocardial performance index (MPI) and aortic strain (Ao strain). Also by finger plethysmography with the help of an auto-analyser pulse wave analysis were done and pulse propagation time (PPT), stiffness index (SI) and reflection index (RI) were measured. Endothelial functions were estimated with flow mediated dilatation method. Nineteen patients (46.3%) came to control visit after 8 weeks of therapy and the final analysis was done with their results. Compared to beginning, 8 weeks of therapy with SSRI resulted in an increase in systolic ejection fraction (%64,83±4,54 vs%66,80±3,3, p=0,020) and fractional shortening (%35,39±3,53 vs%37,11±2,49, p=0,013) and decrease in MPI (0,60±0,21 vs 0,45±0,15, p=0,004). The other parameters including left ventricular diastolic functions, aortic strain, endothelial function and aortic stiffness parameters were not significantly effected. Our results imply that short-term therapy with SSRI in patients with newly diagnosed depression might favourably effect the left ventricular systolic functions whereas left ventricular diastolic functions, endothelial functions and aortic stifness parameters remain unchanged.

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