@article { author = {Abdalla, Mohammad and Nayaf, Mohammad and Hussein, Sura}, title = {Correlation between serum α-MSH and vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients}, journal = {Iranian Journal of Dermatology}, volume = {23}, number = {4}, pages = {163-167}, year = {2020}, publisher = {Iranian Society of Dermatology}, issn = {2717-0721}, eissn = {2717-0721}, doi = {10.22034/ijd.2020.120836}, abstract = {Background: Vitiligo is a skin disease caused by the destruction of melanocytes of the epidermis, leading to well-defined white patches that are often distributed symmetrically. The presentstudy aimed to determine the correlation relationship between the α-MSH and vitamin D serum levels among Iraqi vitiligo patients.  Materials and Methods: This study was done on outpatients who attended the Dermatology and Venereology Consulting Clinic of Salah-Al Deen General Hospital from November 2017 to March 2018. One hundred and ninety individuals were stratified into 110 cases of vitiligo and 80 healthy controls. Serum assays for α-MSH and vitamin D levels were sent for all subjects. Results: Vitiligo patients had significantly lower α-MSH levels and vitamin D levels than the controls (P ≤ 0.01). There was a significant, positive correlation between α-MSH and vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients overall (r = 0.236; P ≤ 0.01), though this correlation was negative within the male and female subgroups (r = -0.392 and -0.661, respectively; P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Compared to normal controls, vitiligo patients had significantly lower levels of α-MSH and vitamin D. These findings may back the normalization of both α-MSH and vitamin D levels in vitiligo patients as an important step toward disease recovery.  }, keywords = {Vitiligo,Vitamin D,α-MSH}, url = {https://www.iranjd.ir/article_120836.html}, eprint = {https://www.iranjd.ir/article_120836_806da3b6fbf202638b16bf6ebeb50ffe.pdf} }