الفهرس 
VitiligoOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Vitiligo is a depigmenting disease of the skin, which may derive from programmed melanocyte death or destruction due to inherent sensitivity to oxidative stress arising from toxic intermediates of melanin, a melanocyte-specific protein or other sources. Of these other sources homocysteine (Hcy) may be included.
Homocysteine (Hcy) is a non essential sulfur-containing amino acid derived from methionine (an essential amino-acid). Hcy was proved to has a direct inhibition on tyrosinase enzyme and toxic effect on melanocytes by production of toxic reactive oxygen species.
Homocysteine (Hcy) level is mainly determined by the levels of folic acid and vitamin B12. Both are decreased in vitiligo, which are the important cofactors required in the metabolism of Homocysteine (Hcy). Consequently, Hcy level increases in the circulation. It has been reported that vitiligo is associated with elevated Hcy levels.
NB-UVB therapy is an effective treatment for vitiligo that leads to high levels of patient and physician treatment-related satisfaction.
This study was conducted on 40 subjects. Twenty patients of both sexes with non-segmental stable vitiligo and twenty age and sex matched healthy controls. The patients were treated by narrow band ultraviolet therapy as three cessions per week for two months. Serum Hcy level was measured before and after treatment and compared to serum Hcy level of controls.
Higher levels of Hcy were recorded in vitiligo patients in comparison to controls, higher levels in recent onset than old onset vitiligo, and lower levels in improved regressive disease in comparison to patients with stable disease.
These results reinforce the role of Hcy in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and also suppose that serum Hcy level is of prognostic value for vitiligo patients especially those who are planning to receive NB-UVB.