Correlation between Serum Homocysteine and Vitiligo Area Scoring Index

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder. White macules caused by melanocyte destruction is a characteristic finding that cosmetically disturbing. Until recently, pathogenesis of vitiligo is still unclear. The role of homocysteine in vitiligo is mentioned in previous studies thus it is probable that it can be a biomarker to determine vitiligo severity. AIM: To determine correlation between serum homocysteine and vitiligo area Scoring Index (VASI) SUBJECT AND METHOD: This was a cross-sectional analytic study which involved 30 vitiligo patients that were diagnosed by clinical and Wood’s lamp examinations then VASI score was determined and same numbers of control. We conducted blood sampling and measurement of serum homocysteine level to the patients. RESULTS: There is no significant correlation between serum homocysteine and VASI score (p = 0.133, r = 0.281), family history (p = 0.706), and duration of vitiligo (p = 0.993, r = 0.002). There is no significant difference between serum homocysteine in vitiligo patients and controls (p = 0.905). There is a correlation between serum homocysteine with gender (p = 0.001) and age (p = 0.036; r = 0.385) in vitiligo patient. CONCLUSION: There is no significant correlation between serum homocysteine and VASI score, family history, and duration of vitiligo. There is no significant difference between serum homocysteine in vitiligo patients and controls. There is a correlation between serum homocysteine with gender and age in vitiligo patient.