Oct, 1, 2023

Vol.30 No.2, pp. 84-88

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  • Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
  • Volume 13(1); 2006
  • Article

Review

Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry 2006;13(1):19-25. Published online: Jan, 1, 2006

Abstract PDF Full Text

Plasma Levels of Nitric Oxide Metabolites in Patients with Postpartum Depression

  • Bun-Hee Lee, MD1;Kye Hyun Kim, MD2;Young Chul Shin, MD3;Jung Bum Kim, MD4; and Yong-Ku Kim, MD1;
    1;Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, 2;Department of Obstetrics, KangBuk Samsung Medical Center, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, 3;Department of Psychiatry, KangBuk Samsung Medical Center, College of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, 4;Department of Psychiatry, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
Abstract

Background：Some reports have suggested that decreased nitric oxide metabolites(NOx) and activity of nitric oxide synthase could be related to the pathophysiology of depression. We evaluated plasma levels of NOx in pregnant women with and without postpartum depression at prenatal and postnatal period.

Methods：The plasma concentrations of NOx were measured in 104 pregnant women in the third trimester and at 6 weeks postpartum and in 64 normal controls. The severity of depression and anxiety was measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale(EPDS), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), and Beck Anxiety Scale(BAI). 

Results：Plasma NOx levels at 6 weeks postpartum were significantly lower in cases of postpartum major depression(EDPS scores≥13 points) than in cases without depression(EDPS scores≤9 points). Plasma NOx levels had significantly negative correlation with EPDS scores at 6 weeks postpartum.

Conclusion：We demonstrate that decreased plasma NOx is associated with postpartum depression. Further studies are required to determine whether individual serum concentration of plasma NOx alone could predict maternal depression.

Keywords Postpartum depression;EPDS;Nitric oxide;NO<sub>x</sub>.