Analysis of DNA damage using the comet assay in female patients treated with fluoxetine against depression

Abstract

Depression during pregnancy is not uncommon. One of the main concern with psychotropic drugs during pregnancy is teratogenicity. Although fluoxetine is one of the most frequently prescribed antidepressant, its safety in women considering possible toxic effecst has not been established well. To investigate the potential toxic effect of long term fluoxetine therapy on the DNA in women, comet assay was performed in peripheral lymphocytes of 25 depressive female patients who has been receiving fluoxetine for at least six months. 25 healthy, drug free female volunteers were selected for the control group. The frequencies of comet scores in the patient group were significantly higher than that of the control group (p=0.01) indicating that DNA damaging effect of fluoxetine in human lymphocytes. Our preliminary data were based on a few subjects and etiological and pathological mechanism remain obscure, further large-scale experimental and clinical studies are needed.

Hamilelik sırasında depresyon nadir değildir. Gebelikte psikotrop ilaçlarla ilgili ana kaygılardan biri teratojenitedir. Her ne kadar fluoksetin en sık reçete edilen antidepresanlardan biri olsa da, olası toksik etki göz önüne alındığında kadınlarda güvenliği iyi tespit edilmemiştir. Uzun süreli fluoksetin tedavisinin kadınlarda DNA üzerindeki potansiyel toksik etkisini araştırmak için, en az altı aydır fluoksetin alan 25 depresif kadın hastanın periferal lenfositlerinde kuyruklu yıldız tahlili yapıldı. Kontrol grubu için 25 sağlıklı, uyuşturucusuz kadın gönüllü seçildi. Hasta grubundaki kuyruklu yıldız puanlarının sıklığı, kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı derecede yüksekti (p = 0.01), fluoksetinin insan lenfositlerinde DNA'ya zarar veren etkisine işaret etti.