Predictability of depression by plasma low-grade inflammatory markers in the background of pediatric celiac disease

Abstract

Objective: Previous hypothesis on the predictability of either psychopathological or chronic metabolic disorders by complete blood count (CBC)-derived, low-grade peripheral inflammatory indicators should be considered with caution given the discrepancies in earlier findings. We aimed to examine the predictability of depression with low-grade inflammatory indices in a background of celiac disease (CD) and the association with gluten-free diet compliance by a case-control study in a pediatric sample.Method: A total of 59 children with a biopsy-proven CD were mainly compared with 40 controls in terms of depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as global functionality and CBC-derived indices which the previous studies focused on. Laboratory findings and psychiatric symptoms were examined through subgroups by either depression or gluten-free diet (GFD) compliance. Results: Prevalence of depression was 34% in the celiac group and there was a perpetual association of depression with CD. However, none of the CBC-derived indices investigated in earlier studies of either depression or CD was found to be differed by the presence of CD, depression, or status of GFD compliance. Discussion: Despite the presence of strong evidence for the role of inflammation on the prevalent comorbidity of depression with CD, the impact of inflammation on the depression-CD relationship was not demonstrated on these subjected markers which have been previously recommended as good indicators of systemic inflammation, however, with a low level of evidence and contradictory findings on predicting inflammation. The predictability of psychiatric and metabolic outcomes based on chronic inflammatory conditions with these CBC-derived indices requires further investigation.