Inflammation, Hippocampal Volume, and Therapeutic Outcome following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Depressive Patients: A Pilot Study

Jan-Baptist Belge; Linda van Diermen; Bernard Sabbe; Paul Parizel; Manuel Morrens; Violette Coppens; Eric Constant; Philippe de Timary; Pascal Sienaert; Didier Schrijvers; Philip van Eijndhoven

doi:10.1159/000506133

Inflammation, Hippocampal Volume, and Therapeutic Outcome following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Depressive Patients: A Pilot Study

Jan-Baptist Belge, Linda van Diermen, Bernard Sabbe, Paul Parizel, Manuel Morrens, Violette Coppens, Eric Constant, Philippe de Timary, Pascal Sienaert, Didier Schrijvers, Philip van Eijndhoven

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) influences the concentration of peripheral inflammatory markers, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In which way this immune effect contributes to the impact of ECT on the central nervous system in depression remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether the hippocampal volumetric increase in depressed patients treated with ECT is related to changes in peripheral IL-6 and TNF-α levels.

METHODS: IL-6 and TNF-α plasma levels were measured in 62 patients 1 week before and after an acute course of ECT. Hippocampal volumes were analyzed in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsample of 13 patients at the same time points.

RESULTS: A significant decrease in IL-6 levels was observed in the total sample and a significant increase in hippocampal volume in the MRI subsample. The reduction of peripheral IL-6 correlated with an increase in total hippocampal volume. A more limited decrease of TNF-α correlated with a more limited increase of both the total and left hippocampus volumes.

CONCLUSION: This pilot study is the first to highlight the link between peripheral immune changes and hippocampal volume increase following ECT. Further research is required to conclude whether ECT indeed exerts its central effect on the brain via changes of peripheral inflammatory markers.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	222-232
Number of pages	11
Journal	Neuropsychobiology
Volume	79
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1159/000506133
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2020
Externally published	Yes

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Belge, J.-B., van Diermen, L., Sabbe, B., Parizel, P., Morrens, M., Coppens, V., Constant, E., de Timary, P., Sienaert, P., Schrijvers, D., & van Eijndhoven, P. (2020). Inflammation, Hippocampal Volume, and Therapeutic Outcome following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Depressive Patients: A Pilot Study. Neuropsychobiology, 79(3), 222-232. https://doi.org/10.1159/000506133

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title = "Inflammation, Hippocampal Volume, and Therapeutic Outcome following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Depressive Patients: A Pilot Study",

abstract = "INTRODUCTION: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) influences the concentration of peripheral inflammatory markers, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In which way this immune effect contributes to the impact of ECT on the central nervous system in depression remains unknown.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether the hippocampal volumetric increase in depressed patients treated with ECT is related to changes in peripheral IL-6 and TNF-α levels.METHODS: IL-6 and TNF-α plasma levels were measured in 62 patients 1 week before and after an acute course of ECT. Hippocampal volumes were analyzed in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsample of 13 patients at the same time points.RESULTS: A significant decrease in IL-6 levels was observed in the total sample and a significant increase in hippocampal volume in the MRI subsample. The reduction of peripheral IL-6 correlated with an increase in total hippocampal volume. A more limited decrease of TNF-α correlated with a more limited increase of both the total and left hippocampus volumes.CONCLUSION: This pilot study is the first to highlight the link between peripheral immune changes and hippocampal volume increase following ECT. Further research is required to conclude whether ECT indeed exerts its central effect on the brain via changes of peripheral inflammatory markers.",

author = "Jan-Baptist Belge and {van Diermen}, Linda and Bernard Sabbe and Paul Parizel and Manuel Morrens and Violette Coppens and Eric Constant and {de Timary}, Philippe and Pascal Sienaert and Didier Schrijvers and {van Eijndhoven}, Philip",

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Belge, J-B, van Diermen, L, Sabbe, B, Parizel, P, Morrens, M, Coppens, V, Constant, E, de Timary, P, Sienaert, P, Schrijvers, D & van Eijndhoven, P 2020, 'Inflammation, Hippocampal Volume, and Therapeutic Outcome following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Depressive Patients: A Pilot Study', Neuropsychobiology, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 222-232. https://doi.org/10.1159/000506133

TY - JOUR

T1 - Inflammation, Hippocampal Volume, and Therapeutic Outcome following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Depressive Patients

T2 - A Pilot Study

AU - Belge, Jan-Baptist

AU - van Diermen, Linda

AU - Sabbe, Bernard

AU - Parizel, Paul

AU - Morrens, Manuel

AU - Coppens, Violette

AU - Constant, Eric

AU - de Timary, Philippe

AU - Sienaert, Pascal

AU - Schrijvers, Didier

AU - van Eijndhoven, Philip

PY - 2020/4/1

Y1 - 2020/4/1

N2 - INTRODUCTION: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) influences the concentration of peripheral inflammatory markers, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In which way this immune effect contributes to the impact of ECT on the central nervous system in depression remains unknown.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether the hippocampal volumetric increase in depressed patients treated with ECT is related to changes in peripheral IL-6 and TNF-α levels.METHODS: IL-6 and TNF-α plasma levels were measured in 62 patients 1 week before and after an acute course of ECT. Hippocampal volumes were analyzed in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsample of 13 patients at the same time points.RESULTS: A significant decrease in IL-6 levels was observed in the total sample and a significant increase in hippocampal volume in the MRI subsample. The reduction of peripheral IL-6 correlated with an increase in total hippocampal volume. A more limited decrease of TNF-α correlated with a more limited increase of both the total and left hippocampus volumes.CONCLUSION: This pilot study is the first to highlight the link between peripheral immune changes and hippocampal volume increase following ECT. Further research is required to conclude whether ECT indeed exerts its central effect on the brain via changes of peripheral inflammatory markers.

AB - INTRODUCTION: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) influences the concentration of peripheral inflammatory markers, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In which way this immune effect contributes to the impact of ECT on the central nervous system in depression remains unknown.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether the hippocampal volumetric increase in depressed patients treated with ECT is related to changes in peripheral IL-6 and TNF-α levels.METHODS: IL-6 and TNF-α plasma levels were measured in 62 patients 1 week before and after an acute course of ECT. Hippocampal volumes were analyzed in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsample of 13 patients at the same time points.RESULTS: A significant decrease in IL-6 levels was observed in the total sample and a significant increase in hippocampal volume in the MRI subsample. The reduction of peripheral IL-6 correlated with an increase in total hippocampal volume. A more limited decrease of TNF-α correlated with a more limited increase of both the total and left hippocampus volumes.CONCLUSION: This pilot study is the first to highlight the link between peripheral immune changes and hippocampal volume increase following ECT. Further research is required to conclude whether ECT indeed exerts its central effect on the brain via changes of peripheral inflammatory markers.

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DO - 10.1159/000506133

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C2 - 32114575

SN - 0020-8272

VL - 79

SP - 222

EP - 232

JO - Neuropsychobiology

JF - Neuropsychobiology

IS - 3

ER -

Inflammation, Hippocampal Volume, and Therapeutic Outcome following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Depressive Patients: A Pilot Study

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