Abstract: Objective　To investigate the clinical significance of serum high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), albumin (Alb), prealbumin (PA) and transferrin (TF) levels for the diagnosis of patients with depression.  Methods　　The 60 patients with depression and 40 healthy subjects were enrolled,and their serum levels of Alb were determined by bromcresol green. The levels of hs-CRP, PA and TF were determined by immunoturbidimetry.  Results　The serum hs-CRP level in depression group [(5.12±2.07) mg/L] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(1.88±1.29) mg/L, P＜0.01]. The levels of serum Alb [(42.6±4.2) g/L], PA [(244±48) mg/L] and TF [(1.98±0.42) g/L] in the depression group were significantly lower than those in the control group [(46.1±4.6) g/L, (293±52) mg/L and (2.46±0.39) g/L, P＜0.01]. The Pearson analysis Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) showed a significant positive correlation with hs-CRP (r=0.592, P＜0.01)，but there was a significantly negative correlation with serum Alb, PA and TF (r=－0.463, －0.525 and －0.491, P＜0.01).  Conclusions　The acute phase protein level (APP) of depression patients is abnormal. It has an important clinical significance in the diagnosis and treatment of depression by determining the levels of serum hs-CRP, Alb, PA and TF.

Key words: High sensitive C reactive protein, Albumin, Prealbumin, Transferrin, Depression