title: Antidepressant Treatment with Venlafaxine and Mirtazapine: no Effect on Serum Concentration of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression, stress and antidepressant treatment have been found to modulate the expression of growth factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied depressed patients receiving randomized treatment with venlafaxine or mirtazapine for 28 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between baseline VEGF concentrations in depressed patients compared to healthy controls. We found no significant effect of antidepressant treatment on serum VEGF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to serum BDNF, VEGF may not be a suitable biomarker for effects of antidepressant treatment with venlafaxine or mirtazapine.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deuschle
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilles
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scharnholz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Kahl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D008803:Mianserin; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D000078785:Mirtazapine