| dc.description.abstract | Correlation of Total Vitamin D Levels and Platelet Count with Depressive
Syndrome in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
at H. Adam Malik General Hospital Medan
Beby Puteri Utami1, Mustafa Mahmud Amin2, Vita Camellia3
Psychiatric Department
Faculty of Medicine Universitas Sumatera Utara
Abstract
Background : Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease
characterized by immune dysregulation and multisystem involvement. In addition to
clinical manifestations, SLE patients frequently experience psychiatric problems,
particularly depressive syndromes, which can worsen quality of life and treatment
adherence. Biological factors are thought to play a role in the development of depressive
disorders in SLE patients, including vitamin D deficiency, which is associated with
immune dysregulation and central nervous system inflammation. Furthermore,
alterations in platelet count in SLE are not only linked to disease activity but may also
influence neuroimmunological mechanisms contributing to depression. This study aimed
to analyze the association between total vitamin D levels and platelet count with
depressive syndrome in patients with SLE.
Methods : This cross-sectional correlational study involved 89 patients diagnosed with
SLE. Serum total vitamin D levels and platelet counts were measured through blood
analysis, while depressive syndrome was assessed using the Patient Health
Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Correlation analysis was conducted to determine the
association between vitamin D levels, platelet count, and depressive syndrome.
Results : The study discovered that total vitamin D levels (r = -0.642, p < 0.05) and
platelet count (r = -0.646, p < 0.05) were negatively correlated with depressive
syndrome. The median age of participants was 32 years, with 94.4% being female and a
median disease duration of 2 years. The median PHQ-9 score was 11, the median platelet
count was 145,000, and the median vitamin D level was 19.20 ng/mL.
Conclusion : Vitamin D deficiency and reduced platelet count are significantly
associated with depressive syndrome in SLE patients. These findings suggest that vitamin
D and platelet count may serve as accessible biomarkers for early detection of depression
in SLE, and further studies are warranted to investigate their potential as therapeutic
targets.
Keywords : Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Biomarker, Vitamin D, Platelet, Depressive
Syndrome | en_US |