Scientists from Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania have found that taking antidepressants (SSRIs) can damage the heart’s mitral valve in some people. The research was published in the journal Science Translation Medicine.
A healthy mitral valve tightly closes the opening between the left atrium and left ventricle when the heart contracts. When the valve is deformed, some of the blood may leak in the opposite direction. If left untreated, this eventually causes congestive heart failure.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are among the most effective and widely prescribed antidepressants. The researchers found that their use was associated with severe mitral valve dysfunction, which required patients to have surgery at a younger age compared to those not taking an SSRI.
The scientists analyzed the genetic data of more than 9,000 patients who had the surgery. It turned out that patients with two copies (maternal and paternal) of the “long” variant of the SERT gene (serotonin transporter protein gene) had much lower activity of this gene and needed more frequent surgery due to mitral valve deformity.
Two copies of this gene caused thickening of the mitral valves in mice when given high doses of SSRIs. Normal mice that do not have two copies of the gene also developed mitral valve problems, but only when high doses of the drug were taken.
However, having two copies of SERT alone did not increase the risk of mitral valve problems. Taking moderate doses of SSRIs alone did not damage the mitral valve either: it only exacerbated existing problems.
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Source: Gazeta
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