Psychological and sympatho-adrenal status in patients with cystic acne.
BACKGROUND
Patients with cystic acne (CA) frequently report feeling self conscious, anxiety and social isolation.


METHODS
Mood characteristics as well as self-esteem scores of 38 patients with CA were evaluated before and after 30 days treatment with isotretinoin. A high pressure, liquid chromatography method was used for the evaluation of catecholamines (epinephrine (E) and nor-epinephrine (NE)) in the blood of the patients at the time of the study and in controls (n = 30) after their psychological testing. Moreover, E and NE were measured in the blood of eight healthy volunteers before and after 1 month 'treatment' with the drug.


RESULTS
The CA subjects evidenced anxiety and high catecholamine plasma levels (E = 98.0+/-0.8 pg/ml, NE = 250.8+/-56.6 pg/ml) before treatment compared to controls (E = 71.8+/-23.0 pg/ml, NE = 190.0+/-52 pg/ml, P < 0.006), and these levels were lower (E = 75.4+/-21.4 pg/ml, NE = 202.0+/-49.9 pg/ml, P < 0.001) when their psychological status returned to normal after treatment. No differences were observed in E and NE levels in the eight healthy volunteers who received the same dose of the drug at the same time of study.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that not only the psychological status is influenced in subjects with CA but also their sympathoadrenal system.
Schulpis
K
K
Institute of Child Health, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Georgala
S
S
Papakonstantinou
E D
ED
Michas
T
T
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002395:Catecholamines; D015474:Isotretinoin; D009638:Norepinephrine