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.