The protective role of chronic use SSRIs against atherosclerosis
Greta Wozniak
Medical School
University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
Abstract:
Introduction:
Depression and cardiovascular disease (CDV) are two of the world's leading health problems. Depression has been linked with alterations in the immune system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) in particular, which augments sympathetic activity via central regulatory pathways, as well as the elevated risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD).
The purpose of this review was to determine whether chronic use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) reduces the risk of cardiac morbidity and mortality.
Methods:
A search for related articles in the PubMed database was attempted. It covered studies, reports, reviews and editorials of the last five years.
Results:
Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-a, IL-1 and IL-6, stimulate central serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission and are over-expressed in depression, which has been linked with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) hyperactivity. They have also been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of other stress-induced disorders, like myocardial infraction (MI) and coronary heart disease (CHD).
Conclusions:
New generation of SSRIs causing a reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality may be related to serotonin platelet abnormalities in depressed patients that are effectively treated by them.
However, there is a need for more studies in order to establish the exact biochemical mechanisms that are responsible for these diseases and the immunoregulatory effects of chronic use of SSRI medications.
Keywords: SSRIs, depression, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, TNF-a, immune system
