Levels of malondialdehyde and antioxidants in the blood of patients with vitiligo of age group 11-20 years.

The aetiopathogenesis of vitiligo has not been fully understood. To investigate the role of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of vitiligo, we examined the blood level of antioxidants and malondialdehyde in 40 patients with generalized vitiligo and 40 healthy volunteers belonging to same age group. Our results revealed that the level of malondialdehyde was significantly raised while those of vitamin E, uric acid and ceruloplasmin were significantly lowered (P < 0.05) in patients with generalized vitiligo as compared to controls. This demonstrates the presence of an imbalance in the oxidant-antioxidant system in the blood of vitiligo patients and thus provides support for a free radical mediated damage as a pathogenic event in vitiligo.