Cortisol, the Cortisol-Dehydroepiandrosterone Ratio, and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients with Current Major Depressive Disorder Comorbid with Borderline Personality Disorder

BackgroundMajor depression in young women is often comorbid with borderline personality disorder (BPD); however, adrenal steroids and pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with comorbid current major depressive disorder and BPD (MDD/BPD) have not been systematically examined. Therefore, our study aimed at examining serum profiles of cortisol, cytokines, and the cortisol/dehydroepiandrosterone (cortisol/DHEA) ratio in MDD/BPD patients and a healthy comparison group.MethodsTwelve medication-free female patients with MDD/BPD and 12 healthy women were included. Serum profiles of cortisol, DHEA, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β were sampled, and the molar cortisol/DHEA ratio was determined.ResultsConcentrations of serum cortisol, TNF-α, and IL-6, as well as the cortisol/DHEA ratios were significantly increased in MDD/BPD patients as compared with the healthy comparison group.ConclusionsDepressed patients with comorbid BPD display endocrine and immune alterations similar to those observed in cases of melancholic MDD without BPD. Elevated concentrations of serum cortisol, cortisol/DHEA ratios, and pro-inflammatory cytokines might indicate a state marker in these patients and might contribute to long-term metabolic alterations that have also been associated with MDD.