title: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphism is associated with treatment resistant depression.
abstract: Antidepressive medication and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) increase hippocampal neurogenesis by promoting expression of trophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The aims were to test for an association between the VEGF 2578 C/A polymorphism and major depressive disorder (MDD) in two patient populations compared to controls, and the association between this polymorphism and response to serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and to ECT. The first patient sample consisted of 119 subjects with treatment resistant major depressive disorder who were treated with ECT and the second of 98 depressive patients treated with SSRI. Treatment response was assessed by the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Patients scoring <8 in post-treatment MADRS were considered remitters. There was a trend that CC genotype of VEGF 2578C/A polymorphism was more common in ECT-treated and SSRI-treated patients than in controls (31.1%, 25.5% and 18.7% respectively; p=0.056). The VEGF 2578 C/A polymorphism was associated with treatment resistant MDD. CC genotype was more common in ECT patients than in controls (31.1% and 18.7% respectively; p=0.015). The VEGF 2578 C/A polymorphism was not associated with treatment response to SSRI or to ECT. The finding suggests an association between VEGF 2578 C/A polymorphism and treatment resistant depression which is reported for the first time. Further studies with larger samples will be required to confirm the results.
authors.affiliation: University of Tampere, Medical School, Tampere, Finland. merja.viikki@gmail.com
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viikki
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anttila
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kampman
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Illi
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huuhka
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Setälä-Soikkeli
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mononen
authors.forename: Terho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehtimäki
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leinonen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017211:Treatment Failure; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A