Plasma Levels of Nitric Oxide Metabolites in Patients with Postpartum Depression

산후우울증 환자에서 혈중 Nitric Oxide Metabolites의 혈장 농도의 변화

Background : Some reports have suggested that decreased nitric oxide metabolites($NO_x$) and activity of nitric oxide synthase could be related to the pathophysiology of depression. We evaluated plasma levels of $NO_x$ in pregnant women with and without postpartum depression at prenatal and postnatal period. Methods : The plasma concentrations of $NO_x$ 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 $NO_x$ levels at 6 weeks postpartum were significantly lower in cases of postpartum major depression(EDPS scores${\geq}$13 points) than in cases without depression(EDPS scores${\leq}$9 points). Plasma $NO_x$ levels had significantly negative correlation with EPDS scores at 6 weeks postpartum. Conclusion : We demonstrate that decreased plasma $NO_x$ is associated with postpartum depression. Further studies are required to determine whether individual serum concentration of plasma $NO_x$ alone could predict maternal depression.