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. 2011 Aug;43(2):99-102.
doi: 10.5152/eajm.2011.22.

Serum cytokine levels and anxiety and depression rates in patients with alopecia areata

Arzu Ataseven  1 , Yunus Saral  2 , Ahmet Godekmerdan  3
Affiliations

Serum cytokine levels and anxiety and depression rates in patients with alopecia areata

Arzu Ataseven et al. Eurasian J Med. 2011 Aug.

Abstract
in English, Turkish

Objective: Alopecia areata (AA) is a disease characterized by patchy hair loss. Although the etiopathogenesis of AA is still unclear, it has been hypothesized that immune system dysfunction and stress are involved. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible associations between AA and depression, anxiety and serum levels of cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10.

Materials and methods: Forty-three patients who were diagnosed with AA were prospectively enrolled into the study. Thirty age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were included as the control group. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety were used. For children between the ages of 7 and 16, the Children's Depression Inventories was completed. Serum levels of the cytokines IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were analyzed by ELISA.

Results: No significant differences were observed between patients and controls with respect to serum cytokine levels (p>0.05). Depression rates were found to be 50% and 30% in AA patients and controls, respectively (p<0.05). Similarly, anxiety rates were found to be 63% and 23.3% in AA patients and controls, respectively (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Depression and anxiety were found more frequent in AA patients than healthy individuals. Therefore, when considering management therapy, an entire psychiatric evaluation should also be performed. However, no differences were found in serum cytokine levels of patients and controls.

Amaç: AA yama şeklinde kıl kaybı ile karakterize bir hastalıktır. AA’nın etyopatogenezi hala açıklanamamakla birlikte immün sistem bozuklukları ve stres gibi bazı faktörler suçlanmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı AA ile depresyon, anksiyete ve serum sitokinlerinden interlökin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 arasındaki muhtemel ilişkileri değerlendirmektedir.

Gereç ve yöntem: AA tanısı konmuş 43 hasta prospektif olarak çalışmaya alındı. Yaş ve cins uyumlu 30 gönüllü birey kontrol grubu olarak alındı. Hamilton Depresyon Skalası ve Hamilton Anxiete Skalası kullanıldı. 7–16 yaş arası çocuklar için Children’s Depression Inventory anketleri dolduruldu. Serum sitokinlerinden IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 seviyeleri ELISA metoduyla analiz edildi.

Bulgular: Serum sitokinlerinden IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 için hasta ve kontrol grubu arasında anlamlı fark gözlenmedi (p>0.05). Depresyon oranları kontrol grubundaki %30 orana karşın hasta grubunda %50 olarak bulundu; benzer şekilde anksiyete oranları AA grubunda %63 iken kontrol grubunda %23.3’tü (p<0.05).

Sonuç: Depresyon ve anksiyete AA hastalarında sağlıklı bireylerden daha fazlaydı. Bu yüzden tedavi yönetiminde tam psikiyatrik değerlendirme yapılmalıdır. Fakat hastalarla kontrol grubu arasında serum sitokin seviyeleri açısından fark gözlenmedi.

Keywords: Alopecia areata; Anxiety; Cytokines; Depression.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Depression Assessment of Healthy Controls and AA Patients over the age of 16 years.
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