Associations between serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, corticotropin releasing hormone and mental distress in vitiligo patients

Kussainova A. Kassym L. Akhmetova A. Dvoryankova E. Glushkova N. Khismetova Z. Adilgozhina S. Tuleutayeva R. Kaskabayeva A. Massabayeva M. Pak L. Semenova Y.
December 2022 Nature Research

Scientific Reports
2022 #12 Issue 1

Vitiligo is clinically characterized by the appearance of non-symptomatic depigmented macules, but the disorder is highly correlated with a wide range of psychiatric disorders and psychological problems. The aim of our study was to investigate serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) levels in vitiligo patients and healthy controls in relation to the observed symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. This study comprised 96 vitiligo patients and 96 healthy controls who filled out the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales. Serum levels of BDNF and CRH were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. There was a significant increase of depression and anxiety scores in vitiligo patients as compared with healthy controls (P < 0.05). The serum levels of BDNF were significantly lower in vitiligo patients than in healthy individuals (Z = 4.002; P < 0.001), while the serum levels of CRH were markedly higher in cases than those in controls (Z = 3.764; P < 0.001). The significant positive correlations between serum CRH levels and GAD-7, PHQ-9 scores were observed. However, the aforementioned psychometric scales did not correlate significantly with serum BDNF level. Vitiligo is associated with the depression and is closely linked with lower BDNF levels.

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

Department of Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 5/1 Kerey&Zhanibek Khandar Street, Nur-Sultan, 010000, Kazakhstan
Centre of Theoretical Problems of Physico-Chemical Pharmacology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Evidence based medicine, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Public Health, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
Department of Family Medicine, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
Department of Pharmacology, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
Department of Faculty Therapy, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
Scientific Research Laboratory, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
Department of Neurology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan

Department of Dermatovenerology and Cosmetology
School of Medicine
Centre of Theoretical Problems of Physico-Chemical Pharmacology
Department of Epidemiology
Department of Public Health
Department of Family Medicine
Department of Pharmacology
Department of Faculty Therapy
Scientific Research Laboratory
Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine
Department of Neurology

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026