Pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with the development of post-stroke depression in the acute stage of stroke: A meta-analysis

<b>Background</b>: Pro-inflammatory cytokines may be associated with post-stroke depression (PSD); however, results from different studies are inconsistent. <b>Objectives</b>: To investigate whether pro-inflammatory cytokines are associated with the development of PSD in acute stroke. <b>Methods</b>: PubMed, Embase, and Web of science were searched for relevant literature. Meta-analyzes were performed to determine whether the baseline blood concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines differed between acute stroke patients with and without depression. Sensitivity analyzes and regression analyzes were conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. <b>Results</b>: We included 889 acute stroke patients from eight original studies, 312 of whom developed PSD and 577 did not. The serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were higher in the PSD group, compared with the non-PSD group (IL-6: SMD = 1.26, 95% CI = [0.55, 1.97], <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001; TNF-α: SMD = 0.61, 95% CI = [0.13, 1.10], <i>P</i> = 0.010). <b>Conclusions</b>: This study indicates IL-6 and TNF-α as potential biomarkers of PSD in the acute stage of stroke and provides theoretical support for the early prevention and treatment of PSD.