Study of Zinc Serum Level in Patients with Vitiligo, in Arak City, in 2015

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is characterized by autoimmune destruction of melanocytes and it presented as a patches of depigmented on skin and mucosa. Contradictory reports have been listed from the zinc serum level in patients with vitiligo. The aim of this study was to check the zinc levels in patients with vitiligo who reffered to skin clinics of Arak University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: In this case –control study, we 103 patients vitiligo and 103 healthy people as a control group were entered to our study after obtaining knowingly testimonial.Two groups were matched according to gender and age. Zinc serum level were measured by using the spectrometery method in two groups. Results: The mean serum level of zinc was 92.1±13.8 in patients with localized vitiligo, 81.3 ±12.7 in patients with generalized vitiligo and 91.8±16.2 in control group. Zinc level in generalized vitiligo was significantly less than the control group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that zinc serum level in patients with generalized vitiligo is lower than healthy people. So it can be used in treatment of these patients.

Keywords

• pigmentation disorder
• Zinc
• Melanocyte
• vitiligo