Significantly lower nerve growth factor levels in patients with major depressive disorder than in healthy subjects: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Figures & data

Figure 1 Flow chart of the selection strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria for this meta-analysis.

Abbreviations: NGF, nerve growth factor; MDD, major depressive disorder; HC, healthy control.

Table 1 Summary of the study characteristics in the current meta-analysis

Study	Diagnostic criteria	Subjects	N	Sex (% female)	Mean age (years)	Severity of disease	Duration of illness (years)	Drug-free	NGF source	NGF measurement	NGF value (pg/mL)	Country
Bilgen et al^Citation25	DSM-IV	MDD HC	30 30	65	32.1±5.8	30.7±4.1 (HAM-D)	NA	Yes	Serum	ELISA	399.4±91.7 524.1±76.7	Turkey
de Azevedo Cardoso et al^Citation30	DSM-IV	MDD HC	120 120	79.2	23.8±3.3	12.2±3.7 (HAM-D)	5.8±4.9	Yes	Serum	ELISA	153.9±158.0 93.4±32.0	Brazil
Liu et al^Citation31	DSM-IV	Depression HC	30 50	37.5	40.8±12.8	28.0±8.1 (HAM-D)	NA	Yes	Serum	ELISA	33.2±7.4 36.3±15.1	People’s Republic of China
Diniz et al^Citation27	DSM-IV	MDD remit MDD severe HC	17 38 22	75.3	NA	NA	NA	Yes	Serum	ELISA	16.9 (8.9–24.5) 15.4 (17.8–20.1) 38.1 (14.3–65.8)*	Brazil
Martino et al^Citation28	DSM-IV	MDD HC	30 32	77.4	46.7±10.8	21.6±3.7 (HAM-D)	NA	Yes	Serum	ELISA	202.1±70.1 263.6±80.6	Italy
Pallavi et al^Citation22	DSM-IV	Depression HC	84 64	42.6	15.5±1.8	30 (BDI)	NA	No	Serum	ELISA	5,910.5±1,590.8 6,723.9±1,098.8	India
Hellweg et al^Citation33	DSM-IV	MDD	40	77.5	50.6±14.4	23.2±4.58 (HAM-D)	NA	No	Serum	ELISA	33.5±75.5	Germany
Ziegenhorn et al^Citation29	DSM-III-R	Depression HC	27 107	50.9	NA	NA	NA	No	Serum	ELISA	18.0±4.1 22.9±4.8	Germany

Notes: Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation.

* Median (25th–75th percentile).

Abbreviations: N, number; NGF, nerve growth factor; DSM-IV, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition; MDD, major depressive disorder; HC, healthy control; HAM-D, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; NA, not available; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; DSM-III-R, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd Edition, Revised.

Figure 2 (A) Forest plot of the meta-analysis of NGF in patients with MDD and in HCs. (B) Funnel plot of the meta-analysis of NGF in patients with MDD and in HCs.

Notes: *The report by Pallavi et al²² also contained data of subjects who were in a “drug-free” state. P<0.05.
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; HCs, healthy controls; MDD, major depressive disorder; NGF, nerve growth factor.

Figure 3 Forest plot of the meta-analysis of NGF in patients with MDD before and after treatment.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; MDD, major depressive disorder; NGF, nerve growth factor.

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