Correlation between Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Level and Depression Severity in Psoriasis Vulgaris Patients

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that can lead to depression. There is a similarity in neurotrophic substance in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and depression; it’s called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF level imbalance potentially affects the severity of psoriasis and depression. AIM: This study aims to know the correlation between serum BDNF level and depression severity in psoriasis vulgaris patient and also the correlation between serum BDNF level and psoriasis vulgaris severity. METHODS: This is an analytical cross-sectional study that 23 psoriasis vulgaris patients participated. All participants have performed serum BDNF level examination with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Depression severity assessed with Beck depression inventory-II (BDI-II) and psoriasis severity assessed with psoriasis area and severity index. Correlation between all variables was analysed with Spearman’s correlation test. RESULTS: Serum BDNF level and depression severity are a strongly negative correlation in psoriasis vulgaris patients (r = -0.667 with significant value p = 0.001). There is a moderate negative correlation between serum BDNF level with psoriasis vulgaris severity (r = -0.595 with significant value p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: In psoriasis vulgaris patients, a low level of serum BDNF may increase depression severity and psoriasis vulgaris severity.