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

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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