Use of Serum Biomarkers to Aid Antidepressant Selection in Depressive Patients
Hee-Ju Kang1, Ju-Wan Kim1, Wonsuk Choi2, Ju-Yeon Lee1, Sung-Wan Kim1, Il-Seon Shin1, Jae-Min Kim1
1Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
2Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun, Korea
Correspondence to: Jae-Min Kim
Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, 160 Baekseo-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61469, Korea
E-mail: jmkim@chonnam.ac.kr
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7409-6306
Received: March 6, 2023; Accepted: April 10, 2023; Published online: June 29, 2023.
© The Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology. All rights reserved.

This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to identify serum biomarkers prospectively associated with remission at 12 weeks in outpatients with depressive disorders receiving stepwise psychopharmacotherapy, according to the main antidepressant used during the treatment period.
Methods: This study included 1,024 depressive outpatients initially treated using antidepressant monotherapy, followed by alternating pharmacological strategies during the acute phase (3−12 weeks; 3-week interval). Fourteen serum biomarkers, sociodemographics, and clinical characteristics were evaluated at baseline. Based on the use frequency and mechanism of action, four main antidepressant types were distinguished: escitalopram, other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and mirtazapine. A Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score ≤ 7 was take to indicate remission.
Results: Lower high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were correlated with remission at 12 weeks for all antidepressant types. Lower interleukin (IL)-6 levels and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were associated with remission using escitalopram and other SSRIs respectively. Lower IL-1β and leptin levels, predicted remission in association with SSRIs including escitalopram. For SNRIs, remission at 12 weeks was predicted by lower IL-4 and IL-10 levels. For mirtazapine, remission at 12 weeks was associated with lower leptin levels, and higher serotonin and folate levels.
Conclusion: Baseline serum status, as estimated by nine serum markers, may help clinicians determine the most appropriate antidepressant to achieve remission in the acute phase of depression.
Keywords: Depression; Biomarker; Treament outcome; Antidepressive agents

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