Escitalopram may express variable impacts in MDD patients. In fact, nearly one-third of the patients do not respond. An excessively high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are likely to be instrumental in the poor antidepressant response with this drug.

A recent study was based on the hypothesis that in adults with MDD, the peripheral biomarker – CRP, could be linked to the escitalopram response. 

This prospective follow-up study treated all 71 patients with escitalopram for 12 weeks.

The results showed that compared to the high baseline CRP group (≥0.8 mg/l), a larger proportion of the low CRP group showed remission. Statistical analysis depicted that patients with lower CRPs had a 3.234 times greater probability to experience remission. Furthermore, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) total score reduction negatively correlated with the baseline CRP level.  

The findings suggested that CRP levels could predict the remission and symptomatic improvement of MDD patients after escitalopram treatment, when continuous or categorical CRP levels were measured and assessed.

Source: J Affect Disord. 2022 Mar 7:S0165-0327(22)00218-X.