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.

中文翻译：

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抑郁患者电惊厥治疗后的炎症，海马体积和治疗结果：一项初步研究。

引言电惊厥疗法（ECT）影响周围炎症标志物的浓度，例如白介素6（IL-6）和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）。这种免疫作用以何种方式促进ECT对抑郁症中枢神经系统的影响仍然未知。目的本研究的目的是检查接受ECT治疗的抑郁症患者的海马体积增加是否与周围IL-6和TNF-α水平的变化有关。方法对62例ECT急性期前后的患者进行IL-6和TNF-α的测定。在同一时间点对13位患者的磁共振成像（MRI）子样本中的海马体积进行了分析。结果在总样本中观察到IL-6水平显着降低，而在MRI子样本中海马体积显着增加。外周血IL-6的减少与海马总体积的增加有关。TNF-α的降低更为有限，而海马总体积和左侧体积的增长均更为有限。结论这项初步研究首次强调了ECT后外周免疫变化与海马体积增加之间的联系。需要进一步的研究来得出结论，即ECT是否确实通过周围炎症标记物的改变对大脑发挥了中枢作用。TNF-α的降低更为有限，而海马总体积和左侧体积的增长均更为有限。结论这项初步研究首次强调了ECT后外周免疫变化与海马体积增加之间的联系。需要进一步的研究来得出结论，即ECT是否确实通过周围炎症标记物的改变对大脑发挥了中枢作用。TNF-α的降低更为有限，而海马总体积和左侧体积的增长均更为有限。结论这项初步研究首次强调了ECT后外周免疫变化与海马体积增加之间的联系。需要进一步的研究来得出结论，即ECT是否确实通过周围炎症标记物的改变对大脑发挥了中枢作用。