Assessment of serum total antioxidant status and interleukin-6 in vitiligo patients

Abstract

Background Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disease resulting from the loss of melanocytes. Multiple theories are suggested in the etiopathogenesis of vitiligo. Of these, autoimmune cytokine aberrations and oxidant–antioxidant imbalance are highly incriminated. Objective To study the serum level of total antioxidant status (TAS) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in both active and stable vitiligo patients, and to correlate between these serum markers and between different disease characteristics. Patients and methods This case–control study was carried out on 25 vitiligo patients (15 with active and 10 stable vitiligo), and 25 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls. Full history taking, general, and dermatological examination were done for all patients. Five milliliters of whole blood from all participants were collected, and TAS and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results There was a highly significant difference between patients and controls regarding the TAS and IL-6 levels, with lower TAS levels and higher IL-6 levels among patients as compared with controls. Higher TAS levels were found among stable than active patients. A highly significant positive correlation was found between the duration of the last activity and TAS level, while a highly significant negative correlation was present between vitiligo disease activity score and TAS level among patients. No significant difference was found in IL-6 between active and stable patients. There was a highly significant negative correlation between TAS level and IL-6 level among all participants, while no significant correlation was found between TAS and IL-6 levels among patients. Conclusion Depressed TAS and elevated IL-6 levels may play a role in vitiligo pathogenesis. TAS levels are related to the disease activity and can be used as an activity marker to distinguish active from stable vitiligo patients.