title: Alterations in plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with schizophrenia before and after treatment.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenetic factor, is a known neurotrophic factor. In this study, we examined plasma levels of VEGF in 50 patients with schizophrenia (SPR) and 50 healthy control subjects. We also explored any changes in plasma VEGF levels after 6-week treatment with antipsychotic agents in patients with schizophrenia. All subjects with schizophrenia were either medication-naïve or medication-free for at least 4 weeks before assessment. Plasma VEGF levels in all subjects were significantly correlated with smoking duration, which was considered to be a significant covariate. Pre-treatment plasma VEGF levels in patients with schizophrenia were significantly lower than those in healthy controls. Post-treatment VEGF levels were significantly increased in patients with schizophrenia. Plasma VEGF levels in patients with schizophrenia did not exhibit significant correlation with the total or subscale scores of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) either at baseline or at the end of the 6-week treatment. In conclusion, our findings reveal that plasma VEGF levels before treatment were lower in patients with schizophrenia and that their VEGF levels increased after treatment. Thus, VEGF may have a neuroprotective role in the improvement of schizophrenia or in the treatment effects of antipsychotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Metropolitan Eunpyeong Hospital, 90, Baengyeonsan-ro, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, 122-913, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bun-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, 81, Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Pyo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 516, Gojan-dong, Ansan, Kyunggi 425-707, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-706, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Gacheon University Gil Medical Center, 1198, Guwol 1-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung-Sae
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Na
authors.affiliation: Translational Addiction Research Laboratory Centre for Addicition and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada; McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Won-Joong
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Translational Addiction Research Laboratory Centre for Addicition and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trigo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, 516, Gojan-dong, Ansan, Kyunggi 425-707, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-706, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: yongku@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yong-Ku
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Antipsychotic agent; Schizophrenia; Vascular endothelial growth factor