Zhihua Liu, Yan Cai, Jincai He

Although previous studies have investigated oxidative stress biomarkers in association with depression in non-stroke subjects, the association between oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid damage and post-stroke depression (PSD) remains unelucidated. Two hundred forty-one first-ever ischemic stroke patients were consecutively recruited within the first 24 h of stroke onset and were followed up at 1 month. Serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and catalase (CAT) levels were measured within 24 h of admission using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale was used to evaluate depressive symptoms. Diagnosis of PSD was made in line with theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition criteria for depression. Serum levels of 8-OHdG (P<0.001) and CAT (P=0.025) increased in depressed patients at admission. A positive correlation was found between the 8-OHdG and CAT levels in both the total stroke patients (r=0.320,P<0.001) and the depressed patients (r=0.300,P=0.012). The 8-OHdG levels were positively correlated with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale scores (r=0.129,P=0.046) in depressed patients. Multivariate analyses found that 8-OHdG levels ≥200.0 ng/L were independently associated with PSD (odds ratio, 7.477; 95% CI, 3.342-16.289,P<0.001) after adjusting for possible relevant confounders. Higher serum 8-OHdG levels at admission were found to be correlated with PSD 1 month after stroke.