title: Changes of serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) during treatment with venlafaxine and mirtazapine: role of medication and response to treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression, stress and antidepressant treatment have been found to modulate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Recent research suggests that serum BDNF concentration is reduced in depression and that antidepressant treatment leads to an increase in serum BDNF concentration.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied depressed patients receiving a randomized antidepressant treatment with either mirtazapine (n=29) or venlafaxine (n=27) for 28 days in a prospective design. Changes in the concentrations of serum neurotrophins in response to antidepressant treatment were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant "treatment" by "medication" interaction effect on BDNF serum concentrations that indicated a decline of BDNF in venlafaxine-treated patients (7.82±3.75-7.18±5.64 ng/mL), while there was an increase in mirtazapine-treated patients (7.64±6.23-8.50±5.37 ng/mL). There was a trend for a "treatment" by "remission" interaction with a favourable clinical course being related to increasing serum BDNF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in BDNF serum concentrations as a result of antidepressant therapy depend on the antidepressant and potentially on the clinical course.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Germany. michael.deuschle@zimannheim.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deuschle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilles
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scharnholz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lederbogen
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hellweg
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D008803:Mianserin; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D000078785:Mirtazapine