title: Serum Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in post-stroke depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is a frequent mood disorder that affects around a third of stroke patients and has been associated with poorer outcome. Our aim was to determine whether there is a relationship between serum Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and post-stroke depression (PSD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and sixteen ischemic stroke patients admitted to the hospital within the first 24h after stroke onset were consecutively recruited and followed up for 3 months. Based on the symptoms, diagnoses of depression were made in accordance with DSM-IV criteria for post-stroke depression at day 90. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of BDNF at admission. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study, 59 patients (27.3%) were diagnosed as having major depression at 3 months. Patients with major depression showed lower levels of serum BDNF [8.1 (5.6-9.4) vs. 13.7 (10.4-16.5)ng/ml, P<0.0001] at admission. In multivariate analyses, serum BDNF was an independent predictor of PSD at 3 months [odds ratio (OR): 0.79(0.72-0.87), P=0.003]. Serum levels of BDNF≤10.2ng/ml were independently associated with post-stroke (OR, 11.5; 95% CI, 5.6-23.4, P<0.0001), after adjustment for possible variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates a strong relationship between serum BDNF levels at admission and the development of PSD within 3 months. Further studies are necessary to confirm this association, which may open the way to the proposal of new therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital and Xin Qiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi, Guizhou province 563000, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital and Xin Qiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital and Xin Qiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
authors.forename: Ruo-Dan
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital and Xin Qiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. Electronic address: cqpek1949@163.com.
authors.forename: Sai-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Chinese; Depression