Zeitschrift für Dermatologie und dermatologische Erkrankungen

Serum Homocysteine: Is it a Biomarker for Vitiligo?

Abstract

Fariba Ghalamkarpour, Zahra Jafarian, Hoda Einollahi and Shima Younespour

Background: Vitiligo is a common, multifactorial, polygenic pigmentary disorder with a complex pathogenesis. Free radical and immune mediated damage of melanocytes are the most probable pathological mechanism. There have been several conflicting reports on the blood levels of vitamin B12, folate and homocysteine in vitiligo and its severity. Because of relation between vitamin B12, RBC folate and homocysteine, we checked serum level of vitamin B12 and RBC folate as well. Methods: In this study a total of 50 patients and 53 age and sex matched healthy controls were enrolled. Serum vitamin B12, homocysteine and RBC folate are checked. Disease activity was assessed by Vitiligo Disease Activity (VIDA) score and disease severity assessed by VASI score. Results: The two groups did not differ significantly in RBC folate concentrations and serum levels of vitamin B12. Patients with vitiligo had significantly lower levels of homocysteine compared to healthy controls. Hyperhomocysteinaemia was detected in 34 (64.2%) healthy control but only in 18 (36%) patients with vitiligo. Conclusions: Our study showed that serum homocysteine level did not affect the vitiligo severity and homocysteine level was not higher in majority of vitiligo patients comparing to healthy controls. But vitamin B12 had significant association with disease severity and a negative correlation was found .