title: Hyperthymic affective temperament and hypertension are independent determinants of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has neuroprotective, proangiogenic and myogenic effects and, therefore, possibly acts as a psychosomatic mediator. Here, we measured serum BDNF (seBDNF) level in hypertensive patients (HT) and healthy controls (CONT) and its relation to affective temperaments, depression and anxiety scales, and arterial stiffness parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, affective temperaments, anxiety, and depression were studied with questionnaires (TEMPS-A, HAM-A, and BDI, respectively). SeBDNF level and routine laboratory parameters were measured as well. Arterial stiffness was evaluated with a tonometric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Allover, 151 HT, and 32 CONT subjects were involved in the study. SeBDNF level was significantly higher in HT compared to CONT (24880 ± 8279 vs 21202.6 ± 6045.5 pg/mL, p < 0.05). In the final model of regression analysis, hyperthymic temperament score (Beta = 405.8, p = 0.004) and the presence of hypertension (Beta = 6121.2, p = 0.001) were independent determinants of seBDNF. In interaction analysis, it was found that in HT, a unit increase in hyperthymic score was associated with a 533.3 (95 %CI 241.3-825.3) pg/mL higher seBDNF. This interaction was missing in CONT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a complex psychosomatic involvement of BDNF in the pathophysiology of hypertension, where hyperthymic affective temperament may have a protective role. BDNF is not likely to have an effect on large arteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.|Health Service of Zugló (ZESZ), Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nemcsik
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: László
authors.affiliation: Ist Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.|MTA-SE "Lendület" Diabetes Research Group Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Lilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lénárt
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Dániel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eörsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torzsa
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Beáta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kőrösi
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Orsolya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cseprekál
authors.affiliation: Ist Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tislér
authors.affiliation: Ist Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.|Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ádám
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Tabák
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.|Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.|National Institute of Psychiatry and Addictions, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Xenia
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9015-4203
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gonda
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.|National Institute of Psychiatry and Addictions, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rihmer
authors.affiliation: Ist Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.|MTA-SE "Lendület" Diabetes Research Group Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hodrea
authors.affiliation: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Research Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zsófia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nemcsik-Bencze
authors.affiliation: Ist Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.|MTA-SE "Lendület" Diabetes Research Group Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fekete
keywords: Affective temperaments; Arterial stiffness; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Hypertension