be found here: http://www.cfidsselfhelp.org/cfs-fibromyalgia-rating-scale
The use of this scale in a study of depressed patients may be
misleading because the physical symptoms of depression appear to be
only superficially related to the specificity and severity of physical
symptoms of ME and CFS. Nor is depression diagnosed by physical
symptoms alone. Other symptoms such as excessive or inappropriate
guilt, ahedonia (loss of interest or pleasure in all activities all
the time) or suicidal ideation must also be present.
J Affect Disord. 2012 Mar 11. [Epub ahead of print]
Increased IgA and IgM responses against gut commensals in chronic
depression: Further evidence for increased bacterial translocation or
leaky gut.
Maes M, Kubera M, Leunis JC, Berk M.
Maes Clinics @ Tria, Bangkok, Thailand.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Recently, we discovered that depression is accompanied by increased
IgM and IgA responses directed against gram negative gut commensals.
The aim of this study was to replicate these findings in a larger
study group of depressed patients and to examine the associations
between the IgA and IgM responses to gut commensals and staging of
depression as well as the fatigue and somatic (F&S) symptoms of
depression.
METHODS:
We measured serum concentrations of IgM and IgA against the LPS of
gram-negative enterobacteria, i.e. Hafnia alvei, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Morganella morganii, Pseudomonas putida, Citrobacter
koseri, and Klebsiella pneumoniae in 112 depressed patients and 28
normal controls. The severity of F&S symptoms was measured using the
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Rating Scale.
RESULTS:
The prevalences and median values of serum IgM and IgA against LPS of
these commensals were significantly higher in depressed patients than
in controls. The IgM levels directed against the LPS of these
commensal bacteria were significantly higher in patients with chronic
depression than in those without. The immune responses directed
against LPS were not associated with melancholia or recurrent
depression. There was a significant correlation between the IgA
response directed against LPS and gastro-intestinal symptoms.
DISCUSSION:
The results indicate that increased bacterial translocation with
immune responses to the LPS of commensal bacteria may play a role in
the pathophysiology of depression, particularly chronic depression.
Bacterial translocation may a) occur secondary to systemic
inflammation in depression and intensify and perpetuate the primary
inflammatory response once the commensals are translocated; or b) be a
primary trigger factor associated with the onset of depression in some
vulnerable individuals. The findings suggest that "translocated" gut
commensal bacteria activate immune cells to elicit IgA and IgM
responses and that this phenomenon may play a role in the
pathophysiology of (chronic) depression by causing progressive
amplifications of immune pathways.
Copyright =C2=A9 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------
Send posts to CO-CURE@listserv.nodak.edu
Unsubscribe at http://www.co-cure.org/unsub.htm
---------------------------------------------
Co-Cure's purpose is to provide information from across the spectrum of
opinion concerning medical, research and political aspects of ME/CFS and/or
FMS. We take no position on the validity of any specific scientific or
political opinion expressed in Co-Cure posts, and we urge readers to
research the various opinions available before assuming any one
interpretation is definitive. The Co-Cure website <www.co-cure.org> has a
link to our complete archive of posts as well as articles of central
importance to the issues of our community.
---------------------------------------------
