title: Elevated plasma N-terminal ProBNP levels in unmedicated patients with major depressive disorder.
abstract: There is considerable evidence that cardiovascular diseases are more prevalent in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Secretion of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) increases in several cardiac illnesses, making this neurohormone a reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of cardiovascular risk. We measured plasma NT-proBNP levels in the following three groups of subjects free of overt cardiovascular disease: unmedicated patients with MDD (n=40), unmedicated patients with schizophrenia (n=44), and normal control subjects (n=42). The severity of depressive symptoms was rated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). Plasma NT-proBNP levels were assayed by ELISA. Plasma NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in the MDD group (median: 217.1 pmol/L; interquartile range: 179.4-277.1 pmol/L) than in patients with schizophrenia (175.7 pmol/L [139.0-218.9]; P<0.05) or in the control group (158.9 pmol/L [98.3-212.1]; P<0.001). Among patients with MDD, there was a significant positive correlation (Spearman's rank correlation=0.422, P=0.008) between plasma NT-proBNP and HAMD scores. Altogether, our results indicate that elevated NT-proBNP levels may play a role in linking MDD with increased cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Health and Behavioural Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Piercarlo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minoretti
authors.forename: Noemi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piaggi
authors.forename: Natascia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brondino
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emanuele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain