The Correlations among Depressive Symptoms, Cognitive Performance and Serum BDNF Levels in the Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

OBJECTIVE: In the current study, we investigated whether there are relations among depressive symptoms, cognitive performance and serum BDNF levels in the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS: Sixty patients with CKD and 65 healthy controls participated. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Mini-Mental State Examination included in the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (MMSE-KC) assessment packet was used for the evaluation of overall cognitive function. To assess memory function, the Korean version of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (K-HVLT) was used. BDNF levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.

RESULTS: The CKD patients showed more depressive symptoms when compared with controls. The depressive symptoms and cognitive function were not associated with serum BDNF levels in the CKD patients.

CONCLUSION: In the current study, CKD patients had more depressive symptoms when compared controls. However, the serum BDNF levels of CKD patients were not associated with depressive symptoms and cognitive functions. These findings suggested that the serum BDNF levels may not be reflect the cognitive function and depressive mood state in the CKD patients.