Reduction in serum IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18 levels and Beck Depression Inventory-II score by combined sertraline and ketoprofen administration in major depressive disorder: A clinical trial

The immunological changes in major depressive disorder (MDD) and the use of some anti-inflammatory drugs as adjuvant treatment to some antidepressants have been mentioned in many studies. The effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen on depression was studied previously in animals only. The adjuvant effect of ketoprofen on the antidepressant effect of sertraline in patients with MDD was examined by a follow-up study. The effect of the drug combination on the serum level of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and IL-18 in patients with MDD was also investigated. Out of 140 patients with MDD included in the study, 34 were followed up for 2 months of treatment combining sertraline and ketoprofen. The cytokine levels and Beck Depression Inventory-II scores of the patients with MDD were compared with those of 40 healthy controls. All cytokine levels were measured with ELISA. The serum IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-18 levels in patients with MDD increased and became significantly higher than those of the controls (p < 0.05). The follow-up study indicated that the MDD group treated with the drug combination exhibited lower cytokine levels and Beck score compared the group that treated with sertraline alone. Ketoprofen enhances the treatment outcome of patients with MDD and reduces the level of immunological markers by its anti-inflammatory properties. This study also further confirms the inflammatory changes in MDD and may attract attention on the use of anti-inflammatory drugs as adjuvant therapy in MDD.