Serum paraoxonase activity and oxidative status in subjects with alopecia areata.

INTRODUCTION

Previous studies have suggested that oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata (AA) but these reports are limited and conflicting.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity and oxidative status in subjects with AA.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Thirty-nine subjects with AA and 39 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum PON1 activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) were determined.

RESULTS

Serum TAC levels and PON1 activity were significantly lower in the subjects with AA than controls (p = 0.038, p = 0.001, respectively), whereas TOS levels and OSI were significantly higher (both, p = 0.001) in the subjects with AA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that reduced PON1 activity may be related to increased oxidant and decreased antioxidant levels. These data indicated that oxidant/antioxidant imbalance may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of AA.