Minelli A, Maffioletti E, Bortolomasi M, Conca A, Zanardini R, Rillosi L, Abate M, Giacopuzzi M, Maina G, Gennarelli M, Bocchio-Chiavetto L
Biology and Genetic Division, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2014 Jun;129(6):461-6. doi: 10.1111/acps.12187. Epub 2013 Aug 20.
Several studies have shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is implicated in different neuronal processes involved in major depressive disorder (MDD) and in the mechanisms of action of antidepressants. The aim of this study was to investigate whether VEGF serum levels before treatment might be associated with the antidepressant response.
Two groups of patients were enrolled. One was composed of 50 MDD patients receiving an antidepressant drug treatment. Illness severity was measured before the treatment (T0) and after 12 weeks (T1). The second group was composed of 67 treatment-resistant depressed (TRD) patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Illness severity was assessed before the treatment (T0) and 1 month after the end of ECT (T1). Blood samples for VEGF measurements were collected for both groups at the baseline (T0).
A significant correlation was observed between baseline VEGF serum levels and the percentage reduction in depressive symptomatology after ECT (P = 0.003). In particular, VEGF levels at baseline were significantly lower in patients showing no response to ECT at follow-up (P = 0.008). No correlation between T0 VEGF concentrations and drug treatment outcome was found.
Our results suggest that VEGF plays a role in the mechanism of response to ECT.
多项研究表明，血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）与重度抑郁症（MDD）涉及的不同神经元过程以及抗抑郁药的作用机制有关。本研究的目的是调查治疗前的VEGF血清水平是否可能与抗抑郁反应相关。
招募了两组患者。一组由50名接受抗抑郁药物治疗的MDD患者组成。在治疗前（T0）和12周后（T1）测量疾病严重程度。第二组由67名接受电休克治疗（ECT）的难治性抑郁症（TRD）患者组成。在治疗前（T0）和ECT结束后1个月（T1）评估疾病严重程度。两组均在基线（T0）采集用于测量VEGF的血样。
观察到基线VEGF血清水平与ECT后抑郁症状减轻的百分比之间存在显著相关性（P = 0.003）。特别是，随访时对ECT无反应的患者基线时的VEGF水平显著较低（P = 0.008）。未发现T0时的VEGF浓度与药物治疗结果之间存在相关性。
我们的结果表明，VEGF在ECT反应机制中起作用。
