Research Information System
Thesis Type: Expertise In Medicine
Institution Of The Thesis: Gazi Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Turkey
Approval Date: 2016
Student: EMİN SOYER
Supervisor: AYLA GÜLEKON
Abstract:The etiology of vitiligo has not been completely elucidated. The leading hypothesis for pathogenesis of vitiligo is related to autoimmune mechanisms. In the most recent studies, serum vitamin D and IL-33 levels were found to be associated with the development of the disease. In our study, serum 25(OH) vitamin D and IL-33 levels of 20 vitiligo patients were compared to those of sex and age matched controls. Additionally, the correlation between clinical improvement and the alteration in serum 25(OH) vitamin D and IL-33 levels at the 2nd and 4th months of narrow band UVB treatment were also assessed. Vitiligo patients were found to have significantly lower levels of serum 25(OH) vitamin D compared to healthy controls (p<0,05). There was no significant difference for IL-33 levels between two study groups. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels significantly increased during narrow band UVB treatment. The increase in the first 2 months of treatment was found to be correlated with decrease in body surface area affected by disease (p<0,05). Serum IL-33 levels were not significantly altered by phototherapy. In conclusion, low levels of serum 25(OH) vitamin D are thought to play a role in the etiopathogenesis of vitiligo by effecting immune mechanisms. Vitamin D increase due to phototherapy may have a role in repigmentation independently from the direct effect of narrow band UVB. Further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to ascertain the likely association of serum 25(OH) vitamin D and IL-33 levels with vitiligo development and activity.