Serum levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in patients with acne vulgaris

Abstract

Summary Background Many dermatological diseases have a great impact on the psychological state of patients, like urticaria, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne vulgaris. Finding a “gold standard” biomarker for chronic stress in acne patients is challenging because of the complex etiology of the chronic stress and its variable manifestations. Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between serum levels of BDNF and the presence and severity of acne vulgaris and to assess the relationship of this biomarker to both the degree of psychological stress and the quality of patients’ lives (QoL). Patients and Methods Sixty patients with acne vulgaris were included, together with twenty apparently healthy, age‐, and sex‐matched individuals as a control group. Patients filled a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire; both patients and controls filled a Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS) and perceived stress scale‐10 (PSS) questionnaires. Serum levels of BDNF were measured for patients and controls using ELISA technique. Results Patients with acne had significantly lower levels of BDNF and significantly higher HADS and PSS‐10 questionnaires scores. A significant negative correlation was found between serum levels of BDNF and PSS questionnaire scores. Conclusion Patients with acne are at a high risk to develop chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. BDNF is a good predictor for assessment of chronic stress in such patients.

Depression, isotretinoin, and folic acid: A practical review

“…There were significantly lower BDNF levels in patients than in controls with statistically significant negative correlations between serum levels of BDNF and perceived stress scale scores, according to Mikhael, Hamed, Mansour, and Abdelrahman (2019). In their study, He et al (2019) observed that serum BDNF levels were markedly decreased in patients with depression compared with patients without depression and healthy cases.…”

Psychodermatology of acne: Dermatologist's guide to inner side of acne and management approach

“…In a study on BDNF signals in patients with AV, BDNF levels in the blood were found to be significantly lower than the control group. The authors attributed this result to that stress can have an effect on both the aggravation and pathogenesis of AV disease 8 …”

“…AV patients can face many conditions such as anxiety, depression, anger, weak body perception, loss of self-confidence, social isolation, and activation restriction, because they are often at a sexually critical social age and the presence of lesions in visible areas such as the face. 7,8 Exposomes are the sum of both environmental and intrinsic factors that a person is exposed to from the mother's womb to death. 9 Intrinsic factors are one's own characteristics and are personal.…”

“…The authors attributed this result to that stress can have an effect on both the aggravation and pathogenesis of AV disease. 8 Most of the patients state that AV lesions increase during their stressful periods. In a study conducted with 4676 patients, 55% of patients reported that the disease exacerbated 2 days after the emotional stress episodes.…”

“…AV patients can face many conditions such as anxiety, depression, anger, weak body perception, loss of self‐confidence, social isolation, and activation restriction, because they are often at a sexually critical social age and the presence of lesions in visible areas such as the face 7,8 …”