RESUMO
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate whether the level of homocysteine in patients with postpartum depression is associated with depression index.@*METHODS@#A total of 43 women with postpartum depression or with potential postpartum depression, who visited the psychological clinic of Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hunan Province from June, 2012 to April, 2014, were enrolled in this study. They were evaluated by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale. Chinese Classification of Mental Disorder (the third edition) was used for their diagnosis. The depressive index was calculated by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale, and clinical symptom scores, which was used to assess the level of depressive symptoms. The level of homocysteine in serum was detected by chemoluminescent method. Meanwhile, another 31 women, who visited the hospital without postpartum depression, were used as controls to compare with the 43 patients.@*RESULTS@#The homocysteine level in the women with postpartum depression was significantly higher than that in the control group [(10.09 ± 3.59) μmol/L vs (8.57 ± 1.59) μmol/L, t=12.392, P=0.001]. The depression index was positively correlated with the level of homocysteine (r=0.231, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The level of serum homocysteine is associated with postpartum depression, suggesting that the level of serum homocysteine might be a risk biomarker for postpartum depression.