The Relationship between Plasma Serotonin and Kynurenine Pathway Metabolite Levels and the Treatment Response to Escitalopram and Desvenlafaxine

ConclusionsIn MDD patients the antidepressant response to escitalopram was positively associated with baseline serotonin levels and inversely associated with activation of the kynurenine pathway. These results appear consistent with previous literature showing that biomarker evidence of inflammation is associated with lower response to antidepressants from the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class. Moreover, increases in the kynurenic acid (KynA)/3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK) ratio, which previously has been characterized as a neuroprotective index, were associated with full remission under escitalopram treatment.
Source: Brain, Behavior, and Immunity - Category: Neurology Source Type: research