Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in a patient suffering from depression and rheumatoid arthritis: Evidence for immunmodulatory effects

Berthold Langguth*, Susanne Braun*, Josef M Aigner, Michael Landgrebe*, Jutta Weinerth**, Göran Hajak* & Peter Eichhammer*

* Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Germany, ** Department of Rheumatology, Hospital of Barmherzige Brüder, Regensburg, Germany

Correspondence to: Berthold Langguth, MD Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy University of Regensburg Universitaetsstraße 84, 93053 Regensburg – Germany PHONE: +49-941-941 2099 FAX: +49-941-941 2075 EMAIL: Berthold.Langguth@medbo.de Submitted: May 13, 2005 Accepted: June 21, 2005

Key words: Transcranial magnetic stimulation, depression, immunmodulation Neuroendocrinol Lett 2005; 26 (4):314–316 PMID: 16136019 NEL260405C02 © Neuroendocrinology Letters www.nel.edu

Abstract Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been suggested as anti- depressive treatment strategy [1]. The mechanism of action by which the anti- depressive effect is brought about remains unclear at present. Here, we report findings in a patient suffering from recurrent major depression and rheumatoid arthritis. Improvement of depressive symptoms during 20 Hz rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was repeatedly associated with a systemic inflam- matory reaction, suggesting that rTMS induced an immunmodulatory effect.

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