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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The aim of the study was to measure serum zinc level as a free radical scavenger in vitiligo patients to help us understand the pathogenesis of this disease entity. Background Vitiligo is a common and chronic skin disease. A deficiency of antioxidant substances is found in vitiliginous skin. Zinc is considered an antioxidant that also plays an important role in the process of melanogenesis. In addition, studies have shown a variation in zinc level in patients with vitiligo. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 60 patients with vitiligo who were selected from the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University Hospital, during the period from April 2013 to October 2013, and on 60 healthy controls. Serum zinc level was measured in both groups using a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Results Results showed that the mean zinc level of vitiligo patients was 104.0 ± 20.1 mg/100 ml and that of controls was 93.2 ± 19.5 mg/100 ml. The mean zinc level in both groups was found to be within the normal reference range and in vitiligo patients the mean zinc level was observed to be statistically significantly higher than that of controls (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant association between serum zinc level in the studied cases and course of the disease as patients with progressive vitiligo showed significantly lower values. Conclusion In our study, serum zinc levels in patients with vitiligo were found to be within the normal range but higher than that of controls. Further studies may reveal a more significant relation between serum zinc and vitiligo.

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