Study of Oxidative Stress in Vitiligo and Use of Narrow Band UVB-311 as a Method of Treatment

Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disease characterized by circumscribed depigmenting macules devoid of identifiable melanocytes. The disease has uncertain aetiopathogenesis. The aim of this research is to estimate the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as antioxidants and Nitric oxide and superoxide anion as oxidants in vitiligo patients and evaluate the clinical effectiveness of narrow band UVB (NB-UVB-311) as a method of treatment and repairing the oxidative stress-induced damage. This study included twenty vitiligo patients and fifteen-age and sex matched control. There was statistically significant increase in the levels of SOD in active vitiligo lesions compared to control (P<0.001). There was statistically significant decrease in the level of CAT in vitiligo skin lesions compared to skin of control. After using NB-UVB- 311 the level of SOD was significantly decreased and CAT level was significantly increased (P<0.001). There was statistically significant increase in the level of nitric oxide and superoxide in vitiligo patients compared to control. After using NB-UVB-311 as treatment, the level of nitric oxide and superoxide anion was significantly decreased (P<0.001) in vitiligo patients. These results provide some evidence regarding the oxidant /antioxidant balance in vitiligo patients and the positive role of narrow band UVB- 311 as a treatment of vitiligo