Naslov
Psychoneuroimmunological perspective of alopecia areata:A preliminary report

Autori
Tkalčić, Mladenka ; Malnar Dragojević, Daniela ; Brajac, Ines

Izvornik
Studia Psychologica (0039-3320) 43 (2001), 4; 275-285

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
Psychoneuroimmunology; Autoimmune skin disease; Alopecia

Sažetak
The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate relations between psychosocial factors and immunological changes in alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease. The subjects were 29 persons, aged 20 to 64 years with alopecia areata and 24 healty adults, aged 25 to 56 yeras with benign skin tumor, as the control group. The immune status was measured using enumerative immune assays (from skin biopsy we determined CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte ; CD25 Il-2 receptor ; HLA-ABC and HLA-DR antigen marker and from paripheral blood samples we determined a proportion of CD4, CD8, ratio CD4/CD8, CD16 and CD56 positive cells). The psychosocial status was determined by self-report measures. The number of stressful life events did not differ significantly between these two groups, but results of analysis of variance and functional discriminant analysis indicated that those with alopecia areata showed a significantly higher degree of perceived stress, trait anxiety, perceived incompetence and they used significantly less problem-oriented coping strategy in comparision with the controls. No significant difference was found in mean proportion of lymphocyte subpopulation from peripheral blood, but significant difference were found in skin expression of CD4+, Il-2 receptor, HLA class II and CD8+ between alopecia areata patients and the control. The results of regression analysis indicated that sex tended to be significantly predictive of CD4/CD8 ratio and trait anxiety tended to be significantly predictive of the percentage of CD4 and CD8 T-cell. The present work indicates the necessity to comprehend each patient from the biopsychosocial aspect and to take into account the multifactorial etiopathogenesis of the disease.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA