Desnutrin as a Biomarker for Insulin Resistance in Patients with Vitiligo Vulgaris

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a common depigmented skin disorder characterised by the selective destruction of melanocytes. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess serum desnutrin and its association with insulin resistance in patients with vitiligo vulgaris. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional case-control study. It included 45 patients with vitiligo vulgaris and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Patients were subjected to complete general and cutaneous evaluations. All participants were subjected to the assay of fasting blood glucose (FBG), cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting serum insulin and serum desnutrin. Homeostasis Model Assessment + insulin resistance (HOMA + IR) was calculated for all participants. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the patients with vitiligo vulgaris and healthy controls regarding HDL, FBG, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and serum desnutrin (P < 0.001). Desnutrin levels were negatively correlated with FBS, LDL, VLDL, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR (P < 0.05). Unlikely, the level of desnutrin had a positive, non-significant correlation with HDL (rho = 0.17, P = 0.059). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that in patients with vitiligo vulgaris, as a result of increased serum levels of glucose and insulin, the serum desnutrin was suppressed, perhaps contributing to hyperlipidaemia and IR. So, low serum desnutrin could be a biomarker for IR in patients with vitiligo vulgaris. A multidisciplinary approach is essential for the early detection of diabetes mellitus, IR and hyperlipidemia among patients with vitiligo vulgaris to avoid cardiovascular and metabolic complications.