Aripiprazole altered plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and catecholamine metabolites in first-episode untreated Japanese schizophrenia patients.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effects of aripiprazole on plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and catecholamine metabolites in first-episode untreated schizophrenia patients.


METHODS
The subjects were 50 Japanese first-episode untreated schizophrenia patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Text Revision criteria and were treated with aripiprazole monotherapy. Twenty-nine were males, and 21 were females. The age ranged from 21 to 42 years (mean ± SD; 30.8 ± 5.3 years). Plasma BDNF and catecholamine metabolites were measured by ELISA and HPLC, respectively. Psychiatric symptoms were evaluated using by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.


RESULTS
Treatment with aripiprazole for 8 weeks significantly increased plasma BDNF levels. It also changed plasma levels of homovanillic acid and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol. A negative correlation was also observed between duration of psychosis and plasma BDNF levels. No correlation was observed however between plasma BDNF levels and the dose of aripiprazole.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing that aripiprazole increases plasma BDNF levels in first-episode untreated schizophrenia patients. Furthermore, the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was independent of the response to aripiprazole.
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. yoshi621@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
Reiji
R
Yoshimura
Hikaru
H
Hori
Atsuko
A
Ikenouchi-Sugita
Wakako
W
Umene-Nakano
Asuka
A
Katsuki
Kenji
K
Hayashi
Kiyokazu
K
Atake
Masaru
M
Tomita
Jun
J
Nakamura
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D006719:Homovanillic Acid