Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between serum cytokines(IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α)and poststroke depression.Methods Serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in 64 cases with severe post-stroke depression were measured by ELISA and compared with the control group.The curative effect and serum cytokines before and after the therapy of fluoxetine(20 mg/d×4w)was compared.Results The serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in cases with post-stroke depression were higher than those of in stroke control group(P<0.01).In the cases with severe post-stroke depression,the serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in serious depression group were higher than those of in moderate and mild depr ession groups(P<0.01),and those in moderate depression group were higher than those of in mild depression group(P<0.05).The positive cor relation was found between the severity of depression and the serum cytokines.The serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in cases with post-stroke depression were decreased after the treatment with fluoxetine.Conclusion The findings show that IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α may be play an important role in pat hogenesis of elderly post-stroke depression.