Objective     To investigate the correlation between serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and life quality in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) complicated with depressive symptoms before and after antidepressive therapies.     Methods     Forty-six patients with CHC from inpatients and outpatients of the Affiliated Hospitals of Chongqing Medical University were enrolled. Twenty-three of the 46 patients complicated with depressive symptoms were separately treated with antidepressants and antiviral or antidepressants alone

while the other 25 CHC patients without depressive symptoms were treated with antiviral alone. Thirty normal controls were enrolled from healthy students

visiting scholars and staffs from the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. Serum samples were collected from all the patients and normal controls before and 6 months after treatment. ELISA was applied to detect serum levels of BDNF. Life quality and depression were assessed by quality of life scale for patients of liver disease (QOL-LD) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD)

respectively. All data were analyzed by SPSS18.0.     Results     ① QOL-LD scores of physical functions

psychological functions

symptoms/side effects and the score of the total scale in CHC patients with depressive symptoms after antidepressive therapy were significantly higher than those before the therapy (P0.05)

while patients’ HAMD scores were significantly decreased after the treatment (P0.01). ② QOL-LD and HAMD scores were negatively correlated with serum levels of BDNF (r=-0.663

P0.05; r=-0.704

P0.05); ③ The serum levels of BDNF increased in CHC patients with depressive symptoms after treated by antidepressants and antiviral (t=-10.582

P0.01)

while no significant changes were observed in CHC patients with depressive symptoms treated by antiviral therapy alone and CHC patients without depressive symptoms (P0.05).     Conclusion     Serum levels of BDNF increase following the improvement of depressive symptoms in CHC patients

and antidepressive therapies can improve the life quality of CHC patients.