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

Vitiligo is a common depigmented skin disorder characterised by the selective destruction of melanocytes.

This study aimed to assess serum desnutrin and its association with insulin resistance in patients with vitiligo vulgaris.

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.

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).

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.