Treatment of depression with ketamine does not change plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor or vascular endothelial growth factor

•Preclinical research suggests that ketamine promotes neuroplasticity.•BDNF and VEGF are involved in ketamine's neuroplastic actions in preclinical models.•This study assessed whether ketamine alters BDNF and VEGF plasma levels in humans.•Plasma samples from a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial were analyzed.•Ketamine treatment (versus placebo) did not affect levels of either BDNF or VEGF.