title: Effect of Mirtazapine Treatment on Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Patients of Major Depressive Disorder with Severe Depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of mirtazapine and its effect on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in patients of major-depressive disorder (MDD) with severe depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (aged 18-60) with MDD diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) score ≥25 were included (n = 30). Mirtazapine was given in the doses of 30 mg/day. All patients were followed up for 12 weeks for the evaluation of clinical efficacy, safety along with serum BDNF and TNF-α levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HAM-D score at the start of treatment was 30.1 ± 1.92, which significantly (p < 0.05) reduced to 13.47 ± 1.77 at 12 weeks of treatment. In responders, mean serum BDNF levels at the start of treatment were 2.32 ± 0.3 ng/ml, which significantly (p < 0.05) increased to 2.79 ± 0.33 ng/ml at 12 weeks of treatment and mean serum TNF-α levels at the start were 5.18 ± 0.67 pg/ml, which significantly decreased to 4.36 ± 0.72 pg/ml (p < 0.05) at 12 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that mirtazapine is effective and well tolerated in severely depressed patients and treatment response is associated with an increase in serum BDNF and a decrease in serum TNF-α levels.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors: Rachna
authors: R
authors: Gupta
authors: Keshav
authors: K
authors: Gupta
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Tripathi
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Bhatia
authors: Lalit K
authors: LK
authors: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; 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; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008803:Mianserin; C579455:BDNF protein, human; D000078785:Mirtazapine