Scholarlink

Rational <p>Ketamine has been investigated as a treatment alternative for PTSD for the last 20 years, yet there have been limited reports of biological changes or biomarker characterisation related to treatment.</p> Objectives <p>To address this significant gap, this study analysed blood samples from 25 participants with PTSD who took part in an open-label 6-week trial of low dose oral ketamine treatment.</p> Methods <p>Serum and plasma samples were quantified before and after ketamine treatment for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), serotonin, FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP51) and a panel of cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-17&#xa0;A and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)).</p> Results <p>Analysis of BDNF and VEGF-A levels from serum detected a significant positive correlation between the two biomarkers and a small but statistically significant decrease in both measures after ketamine treatment. This novel finding reinforces theories that ketamine’s effects may rely on a reciprocal interaction between BDNF and VEGF-A, offering potential insights into a biological mechanism underpinning PTSD symptom reduction. Additionally, the analysis of FKBP51 and serotonin revealed novel relationships between these biomarkers and clinical scales, before and after ketamine treatment. Finally, significant changes or relationships involving the immune cytokines were not detected, possibly because half the participants presented with low-grade inflammation while the other half did not.</p> Conclusions <p>This study represents a much-needed broad analysis of blood biomarkers before and after ketamine treatment for PTSD and reveals important biological changes and relationships related to this treatment.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Blood biomarker changes and relationships after low dose oral ketamine treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月16日

查看全文
  • Bonnie L. Quigley,
  • Emerald Orr,
  • Sophie Kafka,
  • Maryam Hajishafiee,
  • Ana P. Bouças,
  • Nathan Wellington,
  • Megan Dutton,
  • Monique Jones,
  • Fiona Randall,
  • Jim Lagopoulos,
  • Adem T. Can,
  • Daniel F. Hermens

摘要

Rational

Ketamine has been investigated as a treatment alternative for PTSD for the last 20 years, yet there have been limited reports of biological changes or biomarker characterisation related to treatment.

Objectives

To address this significant gap, this study analysed blood samples from 25 participants with PTSD who took part in an open-label 6-week trial of low dose oral ketamine treatment.

Methods

Serum and plasma samples were quantified before and after ketamine treatment for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), serotonin, FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP51) and a panel of cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-17 A and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)).

Results

Analysis of BDNF and VEGF-A levels from serum detected a significant positive correlation between the two biomarkers and a small but statistically significant decrease in both measures after ketamine treatment. This novel finding reinforces theories that ketamine’s effects may rely on a reciprocal interaction between BDNF and VEGF-A, offering potential insights into a biological mechanism underpinning PTSD symptom reduction. Additionally, the analysis of FKBP51 and serotonin revealed novel relationships between these biomarkers and clinical scales, before and after ketamine treatment. Finally, significant changes or relationships involving the immune cytokines were not detected, possibly because half the participants presented with low-grade inflammation while the other half did not.

Conclusions

This study represents a much-needed broad analysis of blood biomarkers before and after ketamine treatment for PTSD and reveals important biological changes and relationships related to this treatment.