Tissue and blood superoxide dismutase activities and malondialdehyde levels in different clinical severities of acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND

Acne vulgaris is one of the commonest dermatological diseases and its pathogenesis is multifactorial.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the role of oxidative stress in acne vulgaris and to determine a possible link with the clinical severity.

METHODS

Twenty-three patients with different grades of acne vulgaris and 23 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured spectrophotometrically at tissue and blood levels.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in SOD activities and MDA levels between patients and controls. However, significant differences were found in patients with severe acne in comparison with those with mild and moderate acne. Moreover, comparison between different patient subgroups and controls revealed statistically significantly higher SOD activities in patients with mild acne in comparison with patients with moderate and severe acne, and with controls. Furthermore, severe acne showed statistically significantly lower SOD activities and higher MDA levels when compared with other patient subgroups and controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Oxidative stress exists in patients with acne vulgaris and may play a role in aetiopathogenesis and/or progression of the disease. The addition of drugs with antioxidative effects seems to be valuable in the treatment of acne vulgaris.