الفهرس 
VitiligoOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 116 |  |  |
| | | from | 116 | | |
Abstract
Background: Vitiligo is a common depigmenting skin disorder characterized
mainly by the loss of functional melanocytes. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)
has been rising as a putative player in the multifactorial complex pathogenesis of
vitiligo.
Aim of the work: To estimate and compare serum and tissue levels of IGF-1 in
vitiligo patients and healthy controls to determine the possibility of its
dysregulation and consequently involvement in the development of vitiligo and its
relation to disease activity and relevant clinical parameters.
Methods and results: Levels of IGF-1 in serum and skin tissue of 30 non-
segmental vitiligo patients were measured by ELIZA technique. The results
revealed that both tissue and serum levels of IGF-1 were lower in vitiligo patients
compared to controls in a statistically significant manner (p-value 0.007 and
<0.001).
Discussion: It appears that the IGF-1 system might serve not only as a stimulatory
factor for the proliferation, maintenance and melanization of melanocytes, but also
offers melanocyes protection from reactive oxygen species deleterious effects.
Key words: Insulin-like growth factor-1; Melanocyte; Reactive oxygen species
(ROS); Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2); Vitiligo.