The role of oxidants and antioxidants in generalized vitiligo at tissue level.

BACKGROUND

The role of oxidative stress has not been fully understood in the aetiopathogenesis of vitiligo in different studies.

AIM: We aimed to investigate the role of the oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

METHODS

In this study, we examined levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in tissue of 25 patients with generalized vitiligo and 25 healthy controls.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde in tissue were significantly increased in patients with generalized vitiligo (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significantly difference between two groups at tissue level of nitric oxide (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate the presence of an imbalance in the oxidant-antioxidant system in vitiligo at tissue level and provide further support for a free radical-mediated damage as an initial pathogenic event in melanocyte degeneration in vitiligo.