Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphism is associated with treatment resistant depression

Antidepressive medication and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) increase hippocampal neurogenesis by promoting expression of trophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The aims were to test for an association between the VEGF 2578 C/A polymorphism and major depressive disorder (MDD) in two patient populations compared to controls, and the association between this polymorphism and response to serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and to ECT. The first patient sample consisted of 119 subjects with treatment resistant major depressive disorder who were treated with ECT and the second of 98 depressive patients treated with SSRI. Treatment response was assessed by the Montgomery and Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Patients scoring <8 in post-treatment MADRS were considered remitters. There was a trend that CC genotype of VEGF 2578 C/A polymorphism was more common in ECT-treated and SSRI-treated patients than in controls (31.1%, 25.5% and 18.7% respectively; p = 0.056). The VEGF 2578 C/A polymorphism was associated with treatment resistant MDD. CC genotype was more common in ECT patients than in controls (31.1% and 18.7% respectively; p = 0.015). The VEGF 2578 C/A polymorphism was not associated with treatment response to SSRI or to ECT. The finding suggests an association between VEGF 2578 C/A polymorphism and treatment resistant depression which is reported for the first time. Further studies with larger samples will be required to confirm the results.