Effect of Fluoxetine on Expression of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Patients with Post-stroke Depression

• Main Authors: DING Zhaosheng, ZHOU Fang, LIN Maming, WANG Yun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Third Party Medicine International Publishing Group Co. Limited 2014-12-01
• Series: Journal of International Translational Medicine
• Subjects: Post-stroke depression; Fluoxetine; Activities of daily living; Motor function; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
• Online Access: http://www.jitm.hk/EN/10.11910/2227-6394.2014.02.04.09

Objective: To observe the effect of Fluoxetine on the expression brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods: A total of 62 patients with ischemic stroke and post depression were divided into PSD group (32 cases) given fluoxetine combined with rehabilitation and Non-PSD group (30 cases) given rehabilitation treatment according to the presence of depression after stroke. The degree of depression, activities of daily living and the motor function were evaluated by Hamilton Depression Scale 17 (HAMD-17), Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) before and after treatment, respectively. And the levels of BDNF were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Before treatment, HAMD-17 score and MBI scores were markedly higher in PSD group than in Non-PSD group (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). Compared with treatment before, HAMD-17 score decreased significantly, while FMA score increased markedly in PSD group after 3, 6 and 12-month treatment, and MBI score increased from the first-month treatment, and increased along with the time (P＜0.05,P＜0.01). In Non-PSD group, MBI and FMA scores increased from 1-month treatment and along with the time (P＜0.05,P＜0.01). Comparison between two groups showed that 12 months after treatment, there were no significant differences in HAMD-17, MBI and FMA scores (P＞0.05). After 3, 6 and 12-month treatment, BDNF concentrations in PSD group were significantly higher than in Non-PSD group (P＜0.01). Relevant analysis showed that BDNF in patients with PSD was in negative relationship with HAMD-17 (r＝－0.784, P＝0.000) and in positive association with BMI and FMA (r＝0.761, P＝0.000; r＝0.789, P＝0.000). Conclusion: Fluoxetine combined with rehabilitation can regulate depression, improve motor function and activities of daily living through increasing the concentration of BNDF in treating PSD patients.