Systemic redox imbalance along with increased serum sialic acid is prevalent in patients with active vitiligo: A study from a tertiary care teaching hospital of eastern India

Vitiligo is one of the common depigmenting disorders causing disfigurement and affecting the quality of life. Redox imbalance is known to play a contributory role in melanocyte destruction. Serum sialic acid (SA) is an important marker of the acute-phase response and is associated with oxidative protein damage.The aim of this study was to analyze the status of oxidative stress markers and serum SA in vitiligo patients and to correlate the same with disease activity.The different oxidative stress parameters namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and serum SA were measured spectrophotometrically using standard biochemical methodologies in all the study subjects.Serum SOD and MDA values were higher in patients with active vitiligo (n = 23) as compared to stable vitiligo (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 20). The MDA/SOD ratio was higher in patients with active vitiligo (P<0.0001). Serum SA was increased in active vitiligo as compared to stable vitiligo and healthy controls (P<0.0001).This study indicates that patients with active vitiligo demonstrate enhanced MDA/SOD ratio and increased serum SA. The studied parameters can serve as an important tool to monitor disease activity in vitiligo.