Biochemical profile in patients with anxious depression under the treatment with serotonergic antidepressants with different mechanisms of action

Abstract

The pharmacodynamics of serotonergic antidepressants that differentially influence serotonin reuptake transporters is poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the biochemical profiles in patients with anxious depression under the treatment with tianeptine, a serotonin reuptake enhancer, and sertraline, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) and serum amine oxidase (AO) activities, concentration of middle-mass endotoxic molecules (MMEM) and parameters that characterize the functional properties of serum albumin were investigated in 43 patients with anxious depression (ICD-10: F 32.1 and F 33.1). It was established that, in comparison with healthy controls, patients with anxious depression were characterized by the significant increase in MAO activity (by 95%), MMEM concentration (by 86%), and a significant decrease in AO activity (by 43%) and also in functional albumin activity. The results of the study show that both tianeptine and sertraline are equally effective in the treatment of anxious depression. The present biochemical investigation, however, suggests that the underlying biochemical changes are more complete following tianeptine treatment.