Low serum level of epidermal growth factor in chronic ketamine users.
Minling Zhang, Hongbo He, Yuping Ning, Yi Ding, Xiaoyin Ke, Daping Wang, Xuefeng Deng, Ni Fan
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental May 2018 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2656 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case-control study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 107 |
| Population | Chronic ketamine users and healthy control subjects |
| Measures | Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory |
| Topics | Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Epidermal growth factor Serum |
| Key findings | Serum EGF levels were significantly lower in chronic ketamine users than in healthy controls (22.34 ± 4.81 pg/ml vs. 87.10 ± 2.96 pg/ml). Among users, EGF was negatively correlated with average daily ketamine dose and positively associated with PANSS positive symptom scores. The authors propose EGF may contribute to the pathophysiology of ketamine-related disorders. |
Abstract
Growth factors play an important role in brain development. Whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a role in the pathophysiology of ketamine related disorders is unexplored. In this study, we examined the serum levels of EGF in chronic ketamine users as compared with healthy controls. The possible correlation between serum EGF levels with the demographic, ketamine use characteristics and psychopathological symptoms were analyzed. Sixty-seven chronic ketamine users and 40 healthy subjects were recruited. Serum EGF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Psychopathological symptoms were assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. The serum level of EGF in the chronic ketamine users was significantly lower than that of healthy subjects (22.34 ± 4.81 pg/ml vs. 87.10 ± 2.96 pg/ml, F = 15.169, p < 0.01). The serum EGF level was negatively correlated with the current average dose of ketamine consumption per day of use (p = 0.015), and positively associated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale positive symptom score (p = .022). Serum level of EGF decreased in chronic ketamine users compared with healthy subjects, which may play a role in the pathophysiology of ketamine related disorders.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on ketamine, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taming the Ketamine Tiger Volunteers from a prison population | 2010 | Observational study | n = 20 |
| Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin Humans | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Disruption of Frontal–Parietal Communication by Ketamine, Propofol, and Sevoflurane Surgical patients undergoing induction of anesthesia with intravenous ketamine | 2013 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
| Do the dissociative side effects of ketamine mediate its antidepressant effects? Treatment-resistant inpatients with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder | 2014 | Observational cohort | n = 108 |
| Concomitant BDNF and sleep slow wave changes indicate ketamine-induced plasticity in major depressive disorder Patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Subanesthetic Effects of the Noncompetitive NMDA Antagonist, Ketamine, in Humans Archives of General Psychiatry March 1, 1994
- Reviewing the ketamine model for schizophrenia Journal of Psychopharmacology November 20, 2013
- Relationship of serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-18 and schizophrenia-like symptoms in chronic ketamine abusers Schizophrenia Research November 14, 2015
- Gene expression changes in GABA(A) receptors and cognition following chronic ketamine administration in mice. PLoS One June 21, 2011
- Consequences of chronic ketamine self-administration upon neurocognitive function and psychological wellbeing: a 1-year longitudinal study. Addiction January 2010
and 2 more in the library