Abstract | BACKGROUND: OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of Hcy in the blood of patients with vitiligo as a first step in revealing if it has any relationship with the pathogenesis of vitiligo and consequently if this will have an impact on the treatment of vitiligo. METHODS: Twenty-six patients of both sexes with vitiligo (age range 20-50 years, mean 31.4 +/- 8.09) and 26 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. After excluding factors that may affect serum Hcy levels, blood samples from patients and controls were obtained for homocysteine determination by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The mean serum level of Hcy was significantly higher in patients with vitiligo than in controls (21.61 +/- 13.28 vs. 13.1 +/- 4.88 micromol L(-1); P < 0.001). The Hcy level was significantly higher in male patients than in female patients (28.67 +/- 15.95 vs. 15.56 +/- 6.2 micromol L(-1); P < 0.001) and in male controls compared with female controls (15.07 +/- 4.61 vs. 12.05 +/- 4.82 micromol L(-1); P < 0.001). The homocysteine level was related to the activity of vitiligo and was significantly higher in patients with progressive disease than in controls (25.4 +/- 14.99 vs. 13.1 +/- 4.88 micromol L(-1); P < 0.001). No significant difference in Hcy levels was found between either untreated vitiligo patients (22.77 +/- 13.36 micromol L(-1)) or patients receiving ultraviolet therapy (20.45 +/- 13.73 micromol L(-1)) and the total patient group (21.62 +/- 13.28 micromol L(-1)). CONCLUSION: An elevated homocysteine level may be a precipitating factor for vitiligo in predisposed individuals. In view of the biological role of vitamin B(12) and folic acid in Hcy metabolism, we present our recommendations regarding the investigation and treatment of this common disease.
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Authors | O G Shaker, S M R El-Tahlawi |
Journal | The British journal of dermatology
(Br J Dermatol)
Vol. 159
Issue 3
Pg. 720-4
(Sep 2008)
ISSN: 1365-2133 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 18616781
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adult
- Age Factors
- Case-Control Studies
- Female
- Homocysteine
(blood)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Sex Factors
- Skin
(pathology)
- Vitiligo
(blood, pathology)
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