title: An association study between the Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene and postpartum depression.
abstract: Postpartum depression disorder (PPD) is a severe illness affecting around 15% of deliveries. Several evidences suggest that PPD is, at least, partially genetic determined. The gene encoding BDNF is a strong candidate for pathogenesis of PPD since that it has been observed decrease of serum BDNF in patients suffering from PPD. The gene encoding BDNF has a polymorphism (Val66Met) that alters the regulated protein secretion; the methionine variant being associated with insufficient secretion compared with the Valine variant. We hypothesized that BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism could be associated with PPD. We assessed 227 subjects randomly selected who had delivery at a maternity hospital using EPDS. Differences in genotype frequency were calculated by chi (2) test. Logistic Regression Analyses was performed to verify the existence of interaction between biological, psychiatric and environmental variables and PPD. Difference between groups was tested with Student's t test. Tests were two-tailed and results significant when p < or = 0.05. No difference in BDNF genotype distribution was observed between the depressed and non-depressed women. Educational level, stress during pregnancy, bipolar disorder and anxiety was strongly associated with PPD. We were not able to show an association between BDNF polymorphisms and PPD. Further studies are necessary to both of confirm our results and improve validity of PPD diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Figueira
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malloy-Diniz
authors.forename: Simone B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Débora M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Romano-Silva
authors.forename: Luiz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Marco
authors.forename: Fernando S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Correa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor