Evaluation of serum adipokine levels (Leptin, adiponectin) and insulin resistance in vitiligo patients

Background and Aim: Inflammation is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. In recent years, irregularity in the adipokine balance has been associated with inflammation, metabolic syndrome, and subsequent diseases. This study aimed to determine the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and insulin resistance (IR) in vitiligo patients, and to compare with the healthy control group. Also, it has aimed to determine serum leptin, adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in vitiligo patients, and to evaluate their association with disease activity and distribution. Method: This prospective study included 37 vitiligo patient (20 male, 17 female) and, 32 healthy individual (16 male, 16 female) who were admitted to Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of Mustafa Kemal University. BMI (body mass index) of the participants were calculated, blood pressure, and waist circumference were measured individually. Serum HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), insulin, TNF-α, leptin, and adiponectin levels were evaluated. IR was determined by the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA) method. Results: There were no significant differences between vitiligo and control groups in age, gender, and BMI (p=0,704; p=0,737; p=0,539, respectively). MetS was detected in 10.8% (n=4) of the patient group and 9.3% (n=3) of the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in components of MetS between patients and controls. Leptin (9,07±3,44) and insülin (8,54±5,09) levels and HOMA-IR (1,82±1,23) values were significantly higher in vitiligo patients (p=0,004, p=0,041, p=0,041, respectively). Adiponectin levels were low and TNF-α levels were high in vitiligo patients compared to the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0,885, p=0,110). Serum adipokine levels were not significantly correlated with disease activity and distribution. Conclusion: The high leptin levels, which have a pro-inflammatory effect, support the hypothesis that inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. The elevation of both HOMA-IR values and leptin levels indicated that vitiligo accompanied by IR. Keywords: adiponectin, insulin resistance, leptin, metabolic syndrome, tumor necrosis factor, vitiligo.