Serum raftlin and 8-isoprostaglandin F2α as potential biomarkers in seborrhoeic dermatitis: a case-control study

Seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder associated with Malassezia species, immune dysregulation and potential oxidative stress. While previous studies have explored general inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms, specific biomarkers such as raftlin and 8-isoprostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) have not yet been investigated in SD.

To evaluate serum raftlin and 8-iso-PGF2α levels in patients with SD and to determine their relationship with disease severity.

This cross-sectional study included 50 patients with SD and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Disease severity was assessed using the Seborrheic Dermatitis Area and Severity Index. Serum raftlin and 8-iso-PGF2α levels were measured via the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses included independent-samples t-tests, Spearman correlation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Both raftlin and 8-iso-PGF2α levels were significantly higher in patients with SD than in controls (P < 0.001 for both). ROC analysis showed strong discriminatory performance for raftlin (area under the curve 0.987; cutoff 9.30 ng mL-1, 92% sensitivity, 100% specificity) and perfect accuracy for 8-iso-PGF2α (area under the curve 1.000; cutoff 27.9 pg mL-1, 100% sensitivity and specificity). No significant correlation was found between biomarker levels and disease severity.

This study demonstrated that serum raftlin and 8-iso-PGF2α levels are significantly elevated in patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis compared with healthy controls. ROC curve analysis indicated strong discriminatory capacity, particularly for 8-iso-PGF2α, which achieved perfect sensitivity and specificity in this cohort. While these biomarkers are not specific to SD and reflect broader inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms, their strong discriminatory ability supports their potential role as adjunctive diagnostic indicators in clinical or research settings. Further validation in larger, multicentre cohorts is warranted to assess their utility across diverse populations and comorbid conditions.