title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66met polymorphism and plasma levels in road traffic accident survivors.
abstract: Alterations in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and release may play a role in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  
  
  
  This study evaluated road traffic accident (RTA) survivors to determine whether PTSD and trauma-related factors were associated with plasma BDNF levels and BDNF Val66Met carrier status following RTA exposure.
  
  
  
  One hundred and twenty-three RTA survivors (mean age 33.2 years, SD = 10.6 years; 56.9% male) were assessed 10 (SD = 4.9) days after RTA exposure. Acute stress disorder (ASD), as assessed with the Acute Stress Disorder Scale, was present in 50 (42.0%) of the participants. Plasma BDNF levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and BDNF Val66Met genotyping was performed. PTSD, as assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, was present in 10 (10.8%) participants at 6 months follow-up.
  
  
  
  Neither BDNF Val66Met genotype nor plasma BDNF was significantly associated with the presence or severity of ASD or PTSD. Plasma BDNF levels were, however, significantly correlated with the lifetime number of trauma exposures.
  
  
  
  In RTA survivors, plasma BDNF levels increased with increasing number of prior trauma exposures. Plasma BDNF may, therefore, be a marker of trauma load.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of Stellenbosch , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of Stellenbosch , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Sharain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suliman
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of Stellenbosch , Cape Town , South Africa.|b Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of Stellenbosch , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malan-Müller
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of Stellenbosch , Cape Town , South Africa.|b Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of Stellenbosch , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Sian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hemmings
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of Stellenbosch , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seedat
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014633:Valine
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human; D008715:Methionine; D014633:Valine
keywords: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); Val66met; acute stress disorder (ASD); plasma; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); trauma