The effect of hydrochloric, malic and succinic salts of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-oxypyridine on ­self-­assessment of depression manifestations in women receiving radiotherapy after surgical ­treatment of uterine cancer

Background. The detection of cancer and its subsequent treatment contribute to the development of depression. This circumstance illustrates the need for proactive prevention of affective status disorders in cancer patients, its dynamic control and timely correction.

Aim. Comparative analysis of the effect of hydrochloric, malic and succinic salts of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-oxypyridine (methylethylpyridinol, ethylmethylhydroxypyridine malate, ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate) on the dynamics of self-assessment of depression manifestations in women recieving radiation therapy after surgical treatment of uterine cancer.

Material and methods. A short-term, prospective, simple “blind”, placebo-controlled, randomized study of the effect of methylethylpyridinol, ethylmethylhydroxypyridine malate and ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate on the severity of depression symptoms in patients receiving radiation therapy after extended extirpation of the uterus with appendages was performed. The study was completed by 96 patients. Course two-week administration of drugs in almost equimolar single doses (0.83–0.88 mmol) was started simultaneously with radiation therapy. The treatment effectiveness was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory 2 and 4 weeks after the start of the study. Statistical comparison of related samples was carried out using the Friedman test and post hoc analysis using the paired Wilcoxon test with the Bonferroni correction. Independent samples were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test with a post hoc analysis using the Dan–Bonferroni test.

Results. Radiation therapy was found to cause a clinically significant increase in the severity of depressive symptoms in 14 and 28 days after the start of the study (p ≤0.010). Two-week administration of methylethylpyridinol, ethylmethylhydroxypyridine malate, and ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate reduced the severity of depressive symptoms to the normal level (p <0.001), mainly due to a decrease in the severity of symptoms of the cognitive-affective cluster (p <0.001). The studied drugs with equal severity prevented the escalation of depression symptoms according to the Beck Depression Inventory (p ˃0.05).

Conclusion. Hydrochloric, malic and succinic salts of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-oxypyridine are equally effective in preventing the development of depression during postoperative radiation treatment of patients with ute-rine cancer.