Objective:To investigate the changes of hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level of adolescents with first-episode depression before and after treatment and its correlation with the severity of the disease. Methods: 60 adolescents with first-episode depression were included as case group who weregiven sertraline hydrochloride for 6 weeks of clinical treatment, and 60 healthy adolescents of the same age were selected as control group. Serum hs-CRP levels were measured at baseline and at the end of 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after treatment, and at the time of enrollment in the control group. The Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD-24) was used to assess the mood and the severity and condition changes of the two groups. Results: The total scores of the HAMD-24 and the serum hs-CRP levels of the case group measured before treatment and the first, second, fourth, and sixth week after treatment were significantly higher than those of the healthy control group(P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that the serum hs-CRP levels of the adolescents with first-episode depression before treatment and the first, second, fourth, and sixth weekend after treatment were positively correlated with the total score of HAMD-24(P<0.01).There was a positive correlation between the level of serum hs-CRP in the case group before treatment and total score of HAMD-24. Conclusion: Serum hs-CRP levels are significantly higher in adolescent first-episode depression patients compared with the control group, and serum hs-CRP levels could reflect the severity of the condition in adolescent first-episode depression patients. |