Vascular endothelial growth factor in major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder: A network meta-analysis. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pu, Juncai; Liu, Yiyun; Gui, Siwen; Tian, Lu; Xu, Shaohua; Song, Xuemian; Zhong, Xiaogang; Chen, Yue; Chen, Xiang; Yu, Yue; Liu, Lanxiang; Zhang, Hanping; Wang, Haiyang; Zhou, Chanjuan; Zhao, Libo; Xie, Peng
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 292(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Vascular endothelial growth factor -- Major depressive disorder -- Schizophrenia -- Bipolar disorder; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113319
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Comparison of blood VEGF levels in MDD, SCZ, and BD based on data from 44 studies. No significant differences were found between MDD, SCZ, BDd, BDe, BDm, and HC. VEGF levels detected by ELISA may be used to distinguish MDD and SCZ. VEGF levels may be increased in medication-treated MDD compared with controls. Abstract: The peripheral levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been studied in major psychiatric diseases compared with healthy controls (HCs), but the results were inconsistent. Moreover, few studies have compared VEGF levels between these psychiatric diseases. The aim of the present study was to compare blood VEGF levels in major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder either in a manic episode, a depressive episode, or a euthymic state, and HC. We supposed that VEGF levels may be elevated in some of these diseases as a potential biomarker. In this study, forty-four studies with 6343 participants were included, and network meta-analysis was used to synthesize evidence from both direct and indirect comparisons. The main analysis showed that no significant differences were found between these groups. Subgroup analysis found that patients with MDD may have higher blood VEGF levels than patients with SCZ when the levels were measured through ELISA, and VEGF levels were increased in medication-treated MDD patients compared with HCs. Taken together, blood VEGF levels may be unaltered in these psychiatric disorders, while detection of VEGF in blood by ELISA may a feasible way to distinguish MDD and SCZ. Further replicated studies with larger samples are needed.