BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests a possible role for immune system dysregulation in the pathogenesis of postpartum psychosis (PP) but the evidence is limited. The current study sought to determine the… Click to show full abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests a possible role for immune system dysregulation in the pathogenesis of postpartum psychosis (PP) but the evidence is limited. The current study sought to determine the serum cytokines/ chemokine changes associated with first-onset PP. METHODS Women with first onset PP were recruited as cases and the cytokines/ chemokine changes were compared against healthy postpartum (HP) and healthy non-postpartum (HNP) women.There were 20 subjects in each of the three groups. Levels of serum cytokines and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) were estimated with a cytometric beadarray assay. RESULTS HP group showed significantly elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-6 as compared to HNP group. Whereas, the first onset PP group showed significantly elevated levels of both IL-6 and IL-8 as compared to HNP group. CONCLUSION Postpartum period appears to be a state of altered immune functioning considering the elevated level of IL-6 in both HP and PP group. Additionally, IL-8 appears to play a role in the manifestation of PP. Our study highlights the immune alterations associated with first-onset PP.
               
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