Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the possible correlation between anxiety state and serum angiontensinⅡ levels in patients with vitiligo. Methods Sixty patients with progressive vitiligo and 30 normal human controls were included in this study. Self-rating anxiety scale （SAS） was used to evaluate the anxiety state, and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine the serum level of angiontensinⅡ, in these subjects. Results SAS score was significantly increased in patients compared with the controls（46.13 ± 11.72 vs. 36.73 ± 12.59, t = 3.50, P ＜ 0.01）, and 48.3% of the patients were affected by anxiety. The SAS score and prevalence of anxiety were statistically higher in female than in male patients （t = 2.47, χ2 = 4.58, both P ＜ 0.05）, in unmarried than in married patients（t = 2.59, P ＜ 0.01; χ2 = 6.17, P ＜ 0.05）, in patients with lesions on exposed areas than in those with lesions on unexposed areas （t = 3.60, P ＜ 0.01; χ2 = 5.84, P ＜ 0.05）. In patients affected by anxiety, the level of serum angiontensinⅡwas significantly elevated compared with patients without anxiety （63.83 ± 10.92 vs. 40.74 ± 8.70 ng/L, t = 9.09, P < 0.01）. Conclusions Patients with vitiligo are usually affected by anxiety. The serum level of angiontensinⅡis closely correlated with anxiety state in patients with vitiligo as well as with the development of vitiligo, and may have an impact on the initiation and progression of vitiligo.

Key words: angiontensinⅡ