Antidepressants linked to heart risk: twins study

[Guest guest]

http://news./s/nm/us_heart_antidepressants

Antidepressants linked to heart risk: twins study

By Bill Berkrot

and Ransdell– Sat Apr 2, 6:19 pm ET

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Middle-age men who use antidepressants

are more likely to have a narrowing of blood vessels, increasing

the risk of heart attacks and strokes, than those who do not use

the medications, according to a study presented on Saturday.

A study of twins found evidence of atherosclerosis, as measured

by the interior thickness of the carotid artery, regardless of

the type of antidepressant taken.

Antidepressant use was found to cause a 37 micron increase in

carotid artery thickness, or roughly 5 percent, according to the

study of more than 500 male twins with a mean age of 55 which

was presented at the American Cardiology scientific meeting in

New Orleans.

In 59 sets of twins in which one brother was taking an

antidepressant and the other was not, the brother taking the

medication had on average a 41 micron thicker inner lining of

the artery, the research found.

As each year of life has been associated with a 10 micron

increase in carotid artery thickening, the brother taking the

antidepressant had arteries that were essentially four years

older than those of his non-medicated twin.

Previous studies have linked depression to a heightened risk of

heart disease, but the condition was not deemed a significant

predictor of artery thickening in the study.

"Because we didn't see an association between depression itself

and a thickening of the carotid artery, it strengthens the

argument that it is more likely the antidepressants than the

actual depression that could be behind the association," said

Dr. Amit Shah, cardiology fellow at Emory University in Atlanta,

who presented the data.

"This study reminds us that medicines often have side effects

we can't feel, and we should always take that into account.

These drugs provide a lot of benefit, but should be considered

on a case-by-case basis," Shah said.

Shah hypothesized that the raising of levels of certain brain

chemicals, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, through

antidepressant use may cause blood vessels to constrict, leading

to decreases in blood flow to organs and higher blood pressure

-- a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

"Because this was a twin study, we had a very well controlled

analysis comparing brothers who are anywhere from 50 to 100

percent genetically similar and were raised in the same

household," Shah said.

(Editing by Vicki )

Copyright © 2011 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.Copyright

© 2011 All rights reserved.

[Guest guest]

http://news./s/nm/us_heart_antidepressants

Antidepressants linked to heart risk: twins study

By Bill Berkrot

and Ransdell– Sat Apr 2, 6:19 pm ET

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Middle-age men who use antidepressants

are more likely to have a narrowing of blood vessels, increasing

the risk of heart attacks and strokes, than those who do not use

the medications, according to a study presented on Saturday.

A study of twins found evidence of atherosclerosis, as measured

by the interior thickness of the carotid artery, regardless of

the type of antidepressant taken.

Antidepressant use was found to cause a 37 micron increase in

carotid artery thickness, or roughly 5 percent, according to the

study of more than 500 male twins with a mean age of 55 which

was presented at the American Cardiology scientific meeting in

New Orleans.

In 59 sets of twins in which one brother was taking an

antidepressant and the other was not, the brother taking the

medication had on average a 41 micron thicker inner lining of

the artery, the research found.

As each year of life has been associated with a 10 micron

increase in carotid artery thickening, the brother taking the

antidepressant had arteries that were essentially four years

older than those of his non-medicated twin.

Previous studies have linked depression to a heightened risk of

heart disease, but the condition was not deemed a significant

predictor of artery thickening in the study.

"Because we didn't see an association between depression itself

and a thickening of the carotid artery, it strengthens the

argument that it is more likely the antidepressants than the

actual depression that could be behind the association," said

Dr. Amit Shah, cardiology fellow at Emory University in Atlanta,

who presented the data.

"This study reminds us that medicines often have side effects

we can't feel, and we should always take that into account.

These drugs provide a lot of benefit, but should be considered

on a case-by-case basis," Shah said.

Shah hypothesized that the raising of levels of certain brain

chemicals, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, through

antidepressant use may cause blood vessels to constrict, leading

to decreases in blood flow to organs and higher blood pressure

-- a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

"Because this was a twin study, we had a very well controlled

analysis comparing brothers who are anywhere from 50 to 100

percent genetically similar and were raised in the same

household," Shah said.

(Editing by Vicki )

Copyright © 2011 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.Copyright

© 2011 All rights reserved.

[Guest guest]

http://news./s/nm/us_heart_antidepressants

Antidepressants linked to heart risk: twins study

By Bill Berkrot

and Ransdell– Sat Apr 2, 6:19 pm ET

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Middle-age men who use antidepressants

are more likely to have a narrowing of blood vessels, increasing

the risk of heart attacks and strokes, than those who do not use

the medications, according to a study presented on Saturday.

A study of twins found evidence of atherosclerosis, as measured

by the interior thickness of the carotid artery, regardless of

the type of antidepressant taken.

Antidepressant use was found to cause a 37 micron increase in

carotid artery thickness, or roughly 5 percent, according to the

study of more than 500 male twins with a mean age of 55 which

was presented at the American Cardiology scientific meeting in

New Orleans.

In 59 sets of twins in which one brother was taking an

antidepressant and the other was not, the brother taking the

medication had on average a 41 micron thicker inner lining of

the artery, the research found.

As each year of life has been associated with a 10 micron

increase in carotid artery thickening, the brother taking the

antidepressant had arteries that were essentially four years

older than those of his non-medicated twin.

Previous studies have linked depression to a heightened risk of

heart disease, but the condition was not deemed a significant

predictor of artery thickening in the study.

"Because we didn't see an association between depression itself

and a thickening of the carotid artery, it strengthens the

argument that it is more likely the antidepressants than the

actual depression that could be behind the association," said

Dr. Amit Shah, cardiology fellow at Emory University in Atlanta,

who presented the data.

"This study reminds us that medicines often have side effects

we can't feel, and we should always take that into account.

These drugs provide a lot of benefit, but should be considered

on a case-by-case basis," Shah said.

Shah hypothesized that the raising of levels of certain brain

chemicals, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, through

antidepressant use may cause blood vessels to constrict, leading

to decreases in blood flow to organs and higher blood pressure

-- a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

"Because this was a twin study, we had a very well controlled

analysis comparing brothers who are anywhere from 50 to 100

percent genetically similar and were raised in the same

household," Shah said.

(Editing by Vicki )

Copyright © 2011 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.Copyright

© 2011 All rights reserved.

[Guest guest]

http://news./s/nm/us_heart_antidepressants

Antidepressants linked to heart risk: twins study

By Bill Berkrot

and Ransdell– Sat Apr 2, 6:19 pm ET

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Middle-age men who use antidepressants

are more likely to have a narrowing of blood vessels, increasing

the risk of heart attacks and strokes, than those who do not use

the medications, according to a study presented on Saturday.

A study of twins found evidence of atherosclerosis, as measured

by the interior thickness of the carotid artery, regardless of

the type of antidepressant taken.

Antidepressant use was found to cause a 37 micron increase in

carotid artery thickness, or roughly 5 percent, according to the

study of more than 500 male twins with a mean age of 55 which

was presented at the American Cardiology scientific meeting in

New Orleans.

In 59 sets of twins in which one brother was taking an

antidepressant and the other was not, the brother taking the

medication had on average a 41 micron thicker inner lining of

the artery, the research found.

As each year of life has been associated with a 10 micron

increase in carotid artery thickening, the brother taking the

antidepressant had arteries that were essentially four years

older than those of his non-medicated twin.

Previous studies have linked depression to a heightened risk of

heart disease, but the condition was not deemed a significant

predictor of artery thickening in the study.

"Because we didn't see an association between depression itself

and a thickening of the carotid artery, it strengthens the

argument that it is more likely the antidepressants than the

actual depression that could be behind the association," said

Dr. Amit Shah, cardiology fellow at Emory University in Atlanta,

who presented the data.

"This study reminds us that medicines often have side effects

we can't feel, and we should always take that into account.

These drugs provide a lot of benefit, but should be considered

on a case-by-case basis," Shah said.

Shah hypothesized that the raising of levels of certain brain

chemicals, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, through

antidepressant use may cause blood vessels to constrict, leading

to decreases in blood flow to organs and higher blood pressure

-- a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

"Because this was a twin study, we had a very well controlled

analysis comparing brothers who are anywhere from 50 to 100

percent genetically similar and were raised in the same

household," Shah said.

(Editing by Vicki )

Copyright © 2011 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.Copyright

© 2011 All rights reserved.