The Relationship between Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor’s Serum Level and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-depression in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that can lead to depression. The involvement of the nervous system in psoriasis was proved by the influence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in regulating corneocyte homeostasis. Low level of BDNF in patients with psoriasis result in transit amplifying subpopulation of basal keratinocytes not performing their function as inhibitors of keratinocyte proliferation, resulting in acceleration of keratinocyte proliferation. In depressed patients, it is known that levels of BDNF in the serum and hippocampus are low. BDNF level imbalance potentially affects the severity of psoriasis and depression. METHODS: This is an analytical cross-sectional study. The measurement of BDNFs serum level was carried out in the Medan Private Laboratory using a human BDNF (R and D®, USA) kit using the ELISA method. We use hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS-D) questionnaire to assess depression symptoms. RESULTS: The results of the Spearman correlation test for BDNFs serum level and HADS-D showed p < 0.05, it can be concluded that there is a correlation between BDNFs serum level and HADS-D. The strength of the relationship between HADS-D and BDNFs serum level is −0.537 that shows moderate correlation (r = 0.4 −<0.6). Relationship between HADS-D and BDNFs serum level is −0.537 that shows moderate correlation (r = 0.4 −<0.6). CONCLUSION: This study shows a moderate negative relationship between BDNFs serum level and the degree of symptoms of depression, which the lower level of BDNFs serum will increase the degree of depression symptoms.