The dynamics of the ciliary neurotrophic factor level in the blood serum of patients with melancholic depression under venlafaxine pharmacotherapy

Introduction. Currently, depression is a growing medical and social problem. Neurotrophic factors can influence affective behavior, depression, anxiety, and anguish. The ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), being a neurotrophin, acts as a neuroprotective compound, plays an important role in the regulation of neuronal development, neuroprotection, and can affect cognitive processes. However, there are no data in the literature on the change in the level of CNTF in depression, and the physiological significance of circulating CNTF in the blood is still not clear. Objective: to study the level of ciliary neurotrophic factor in the blood of patients with melancholic depression in the dynamics of pharmacotherapy with the antidepressant venlafaxine. Material and Methods: main group includes 27 patients aged 20-50 years with the diagnosis of “melancholic depression”, control group includes 10 healthy volunteers. The patients' state is assessed using the Hamilton Depression (HDRS-21 and Anxiety (HARS) Rating Scales. Venlafaxine 75-150 mg/day is prescribed as monotherapy. Results: in the blood serum of patients with melancholic depression, the content of CNTF is determined. The level of CNTF in the blood serum of patients at baseline is statistically significantly higher than the level of this factor in healthy persons - 679.1±63.1 and 405.9±91.9 picograms/ml of serum, respectively (p=0.01). After 30 days from the start of therapy with venlafaxine (75-150 mg/day), the content of this neurotropic factor remains at the level typical for patients at baseline - 732.2±126.5 and 679.1±63.1 picograms/ml of serum, respectively. In the literature, the study of the content of ciliary neurotrophic factor is carried out in patients with depression for the first time.