Brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a marker of anxiety-depressive symptoms in tension-type headache
Introduction. Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common clinical form of headache. The neurobiological nature of the TTH pathogenesis remains not fully understood. There is a neurotrophic theory of depression that postulates that a low level of BDNF resulting from the atrophy of specific areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus and amygdala, leads to a decrease in neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, and the development of depression. In this connection, the study of the level of BDNF and its participation in the pathogenesis of TTH is interesting. Materials and methods. 126 patients with TTH were included in the study. Anxiety-depressive symptoms were assessed using the hospital anxiety and depression scale, Beck's depression inventory, the Spielberger-Hanin scale. A quantitative assessment of the serum level of BDNF was determined by ELISA using ELISA Kit (USA) reagents. Results. The level of BDNF in the serum of peripheral blood was decreased in patients with TTH. The correlation was found between the level of BDNF in the serum of peripheral blood and the severity of anxiety (r=-0.797, p<0.05) and depression on the hospital anxiety and depression scale HADS (r=-0.788, p<0.05), Beck's depression inventory (r=-0.731, p<0.05). Conclusions. The high anxiety and depressive symptoms comorbidity was revealed in patients with tension-type headache. A significantly higher level of emotional and affective disorders was found in patients with BDNF deficiency. The level of BDNF in the serum of peripheral blood can be considered as a prognostic marker for the anxiety-depressive symptoms development in patients with tension-type headache.