Effects of electroconvulsive therapy on serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in treatment resistant major depression.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effects of electroconvulsive treatment on serum BDNF and NGF levels in patients with treatment-resistant major depression. METHODS: Thirty patients with treatment-resistant major depression and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. The patients' serum BDNF and NGF levels were measured three times; before treatment (T0), when the clinical response occurred (T1) and at the end of treatment (T2). RESULTS: The reduction detected in the HAM-D scores with ECT during the T0-T1, T1-T2 and T0-T2 periods was found to be statistically significant. In the patient group, increase in the mean BDNF levels after ECT treatment was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Significant increases in serum BDNF levels with ECT were lower than in the control group, and the serum NGF levels did not increase significantly. There was no relationship between the severity of the depression and serum BDNF and NGF levels (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study evaluated the role of neurotrophic factors in the etiopathogenesis of major depression. Future studies should investigate the relationship between neurotrophic factors with neuroendocrine and genetic processes to elucidate the psychobiology and treatment of mental disorders.

Hb H Interference on Measurement Of HbA1c With Ion-Exchange HPLC.

In this article, an interference caused by hemoglobin H (Hb H), during the measurement of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) with ion exchange high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, was presented in blood sample of a 20-year-old male patient. HbA1c measurement was performed with Agilent 1200 HPLC system using a commercial Recipe HbA1c ion-exchange column. Hemoglobin electrophoresis was performed with Interlab G26 agarose electrophoresis automated compact system. HbA1c level was 18.2% and HbA0 level was 81.5% with ion-exchange HPLC method. Patient's fasting serum glucose was assessed before HbA1c measurement and the result was 165 mg/dL (9.16 mmol/L). On the other hand, the result of HbA0 was 87.9%, Hb H was 10.8% and Hb A2 was 1.3% with electrophoresis. Whole blood test values were within reference ranges except MCV. MCV value was 79.6 fL. It is important to keep in mind that HbA1c level might be considered falsely high with ion-exchange HPLC method because of Hb H containing sample.