Correlation between serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor level and depression severity in alopecia areata patients

Abstract

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a type of non-scarring hair loss affecting anagen stage hair follicles with a multifactorial autoimmune pathogenesis and an unknown etiology. It affects about 2-3% of new patients attending Dermatology Clinics, presenting a wide range of clinical heterogeneity. Objectives: To investigate the correlation between serum BDNF level and depression severity in alopecia areata patients. Methods: The present study had been carried out on 50patients suffering from Alopecia Areata. A written informed consent was obtained from all subjects and approval of the Ethics committee will be sought. Results: Obtained data were presented as mean ± SD, ranges, numbers and percentages as appropriate. Nominal variables were analyzed using Chi-squared (χ2) test. Continuous variables were analyzed using unpaired Student’s t-test or Univariate two-group repeated measures “mixed-design” analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc Dunnett’s test as appropriate. Nominal and non-normally distributed variables were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test. Statistical calculations were performed using Microsoft® Office Excel 2016 and SPSS (Version 20, 2011). P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Conclusion: This analytical cross-sectional study revealed that the lower serum BDNF level, the higher the severity of depression and Alopecia Areata will be.