title: Possible Biomarkers of Chronic Stress Induced Exhaustion - A Longitudinal Study.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) have previously been suggested to be potential biomarkers for chronic stress induced exhaustion. The knowledge about VEGF has increased during the last decades and supports the contention that VEGF plays an important role in stress and depression. There is scarce knowledge on the possible relationship of EGF and MCP-1 in chronic stress and depression. This study further examines the role of VEGF, EGF and MCP-1 in women with chronic stress induced exhaustion and healthy women during a follow-up period of two years.
  
  
  
  Blood samples were collected from 105 women with chronic stress induced exhaustion on at least 50% sick leave for at least three months, at inclusion (T0), after 12 months (T12) and after 24 months (T24). Blood samples were collected at inclusion (T0) in 116 physically and psychiatrically healthy women. The plasma levels of VEGF, EGF and MCP-1 were analyzed using Biochip Array Technology. Women with chronic stress induced exhaustion had significantly higher plasma levels of VEGF and EGF compared to healthy women at baseline, T12 and at T24. There was no significant difference in plasma levels of MCP-1. Plasma levels of VEGF and EGF decreased significantly in women with chronic stress induced exhaustion during the two years follow-up.
  
  
  
  The replicated findings of elevated levels of VEGF and EGF in women with chronic stress induced exhaustion and decreasing plasma levels of VEGF and EGF during the two years follow-up add important knowledge to the pathophysiology of chronic stress induced exhaustion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wallensten
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Åsberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Åke
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Nygren
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Academic Primary Healthcare Center, Stockholms läns landsting, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szulkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.|Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wallén
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 17176, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mobarrez
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Neurobiology, Care Science and Society, Division of Family Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nager
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor