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Pharmacopsychiatry 2015; 48(07): 292-293
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1555849
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Antidepressant Treatment with Venlafaxine and Mirtazapine: no Effect on Serum Concentration of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)

M. Deuschle
1   Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
,
M. Gilles
1   Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
,
B. Scharnholz
1   Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
,
K. G. Kahl
2   Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
17 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction: Depression, stress and antidepressant treatment have been found to modulate the expression of growth factors.

Methods: We studied depressed patients receiving randomized treatment with venlafaxine or mirtazapine for 28 days.

Results: There was no significant difference between baseline VEGF concentrations in depressed patients compared to healthy controls. We found no significant effect of antidepressant treatment on serum VEGF.

Discussion: In contrast to serum BDNF, VEGF may not be a suitable biomarker for effects of antidepressant treatment with venlafaxine or mirtazapine.

Key words

vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) - brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - depression - remission - antidepressant
 

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