Risk factors and early identification markers for post-ischemic stroke anxiety and depression

Table 6 Inflammatory and neuroendocrine biomarkers

Indicator	PSD group (n = 46)	Non-PSD group (n = 66)	P value
Inflammatory markers
IL-6 (pg/mL)	7.8 ± 1.2	4.5 ± 0.8	< 0.001
TNF-α (pg/mL)	15.6 ± 2.3	9.8 ± 1.5	< 0.001
CRP (mg/L)	12.5 ± 3.4	8.2 ± 2.1	0.002
MCP-1 (pg/mL)	450 ± 60	380 ± 50	0.010
HPA axis function
Morning serum cortisol (nmol/L)	386.5 ± 92.3	328.7 ± 75.6	< 0.001
Diurnal cortisol rhythm (evening decline)	Reduced	Normal	-
ACTH level (pg/mL)	40.5 ± 7.8	35.2 ± 6.5	0.034
Diurnal cortisol variation (%)	25.0 ± 5.0	35.0 ± 6.0	0.001
Cortisol awakening response (nmol/L)	150.0 ± 30.0	180.0 ± 40.0	0.02

PSD: Post-stroke anxiety and depression; IL-6: Interleukin-6; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; CRP: C-reactive protein; MCP-1: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; HPA: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal; ACTH: Adrenocorticotropic hormone.