ASSOCIATION OF NEUROFILAMENT LIGHT CHAIN WITH THE ANTIDEPRESSANT EFFECTS OF LOW-DOSE KETAMINE INFUSION AMONG PATIENTS WITH TREATMENT-RESISTANT DEPRESSION
Hui-Ju Wu, Mu‐hong Chen, Wei-Chen Lin
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology February 1, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyae059.560 via OpenAlex
Summary
Patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) had higher concentrations of neurofilament light chain (NFL) compared to healthy controls. Baseline NFL levels were positively associated with the antidepressant effects of low-dose ketamine infusion, suggesting that NFL concentrations may help predict treatment outcomes. The study involved 71 patients with TRD and assessed depressive symptoms using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale at multiple time points after a single ketamine infusion.
Study at a glance
| Design | randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 88 |
| Population | 71 patients with treatment-resistant depression and 17 healthy controls |
| Key finding | Baseline NFL concentrations were positively associated with subsequent HDRS scores following low-dose ketamine infusion. |
Abstract
Abstract Background The role of neurofilament light chain (NFL) in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is unclear. Whether baseline NFL concentrations are associated with the antidepressant effects of low- dose ketamine infusion has not been determined. Methods The NFL concentrations of 71 patients with TRD and 17 healthy controls were assessed. Patients with TRD were randomly administered a single infusion of 0.5 mg/kg ketamine, 0.2 mg/kg ketamine, or normal saline. Depressive symptoms were assessed prior to infusion and sequentially at postinfusion timepoints (after 240 min and 2–7 and 14 days after infusion) using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Results After adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index, patients with TRD were more likely to have higher concentrations of NFL than healthy controls (p <0.001). A generalized estimating equation model with adjustments for infusion group, age, sex, body mass index, and baseline HDRS scores showed that baseline NFL concentrations were positively associated with subsequent HDRS scores following low-dose ketamine infusion (p = 0.038). Discussion Higher concentrations of NFL were observed among patients with TRD compared with healthy controls. Baseline NFL concentrations may predict the antidepressant effects of low-dose ketamine infusion. References 1.Chen et al. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 25(2): 99-105. 2.Lin et al. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2023 Jul 25;pyad045.