Serum BDNF levels in patients with opioid dependence during the early withdrawal period: A case control study

• Published in: Neuroscience letters 2018-08, Vol.681, p.100-104
• Main Authors: Sarkar, Siddharth, Jain, Raka, Kethawath, Shanti M., Gupta, Rishi, Kumar, Mukesh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BDNF; Neuropeptide; Opioid dependence; Withdrawal
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.05.048

[Display omitted] •Serum BDNF levels may not be significantly different between patients with opioid dependence and healthy controls.•In patients with opioid dependence, serum BDNF levels do not change significantly over initial 10 days of detoxification.•The study provides some evidence that BDNF itself may not be a robust marker for opioid dependence. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a neuropeptide important for neural growth and differentiation has been explored in patients with opioid dependence. We aimed to compare the serum BDNF levels in patients with opioid dependence with age and gender matched controls, and to assess change in BDNF levels during initial withdrawal period. Thirty cases with a diagnosis of opioid dependence were compared to forty healthy controls. BDNF levels were measured at inclusion for all participants. Additionally, BDNF levels were measured in patients with opioid dependence after 10 days of inpatient detoxification. There were no group differences in BDNF levels between cases and controls for day 1 BDNF levels. Also, there was no significant difference observed in the BDNF levels in patients at day 1 and 10 of inpatient detoxification. BDNF levels did not correlate with severity of nicotine dependence, age of the cases or duration of opioid dependence. The results from the study provide further insights into the relationship of BDNF levels and opioid dependence.