EVALUATION OF SERUM IL-23 LEVEL IN ACTIVE, STABLE AND NARROW BAND ULTRAVIOLET B TREATED VITILIGO

Abstract

V itiligo is an acquired skin disorder caused by the disappearance of pigment cells from the epidermis that gives rise to well defined white patches which are often symmetrically distributed. It occurs worldwide in about 0.1-2% of different population and it occurs as frequently in males as it does in females. The exact cause is unknown, but might involve genetic factors, autoimmunity, neurologic factors, toxic metabolites, and lack of melanocyte growth factors. Vitiligo reflects a systemic process that has important implications beyond the skin. These include other autoimmune diseases, ocular and neurological abnormalities. Vitiligo is commonly associated with hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, Sjogren’s syndrome and other autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate serum IL-23 levels in active, stable and NB-UVB treated vitiligo patients in comparison to healthy controls in a case control study which was carried out on 70subjects: twenty patients with active vitiligo, twenty patients with stable vitiligo and thirty age and sex matched controls. All patients were subjected to 40 NB-UVB sessions (3 sessions /week) and the serum level of IL-23 was measured by ELISA before and after treatment. Comparison of serum levels of s.IL-23 between all vitiligo cases (active+stable) before treatment and controls showed a high significant difference (P<0.01). Comparison of s.IL-23 levels between all vitiligo cases before and after treatment showed a non significant difference (p>0.05). Comparison between s.IL-23 before and after treatment among active vitiligo cases showed a high significant difference (p<0.01), the same results was present when we compared the active vitiligo cases before treatment with the controls. Comparison of s.IL-23 between stable vitiligo patients and NB-UVB treated patients revealed non significant difference (P>0.05), a non significant difference was shown when we compared stable vitiligo patients and controls (P>0.05). We found a high significant difference in s.IL-23 levels between NB-UVB treated patients and controls (p<0.01). A high significant reduction in VETI score before and after treatment in all patients (p<0.01), the same results was found when we compared active cases alone or stable cases alone before and after treatment. A significant correlation was found between s.IL-23 in all cases before NB-UVB treatment and body surface area (p<0.05).