SERUM ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL IN PEMPHIGUS VULGARIS PATIENTS

Pemphigus comprises a group of autoimmune life threading diseases
characterized by cutaneous and mucosal blistering. Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is the most common and
important variant. Recent reports have revealed the relatively high incidence of PV in Iran. The onset
or aggravation of many human diseases is attributed to oxidative stress and it has been suggested as
one of the several factors responsible for etiopathogenesis of pemphigus.
The present study was performed to assess the association of serum level of antioxidant enzyme
glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant (TAS) and SOD (superoxide desmotas) with
pemphigus vulgaris.
Materials & Methods: This case-control study evaluated patients referring to Razi Dermatology
Hospital in Tehran, Iran from January 2011 to November 2012. Thirty patients with early diagnose of
PV, who had never been under treatment were involved in this study as the case group and the control
group consisted of 30 age- and sex-matched healthy people in the same center. The diagnosis of PV
was confirmed by histopathology and direct immunofluorescence. Serum was collected from subjects
for evaluation of glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant levels and comparison with controls.
GPX, TAS and SOD activity was analyzed by spectrophotometry method. Independent samples t-test
was applied to compare the means of continuous variables. Statistical analysis was performed using
SPSS software. P ≤ 0.001 was considered significant.
Results: The mean serum level of glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidants was significantly
lower in pemphigus patients. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups
in SOD levels of serum.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that serum antioxidant level in patients with pemphigus
has been changed and also showed that the change of TAS, GPX can have an important role in the
Interactions of pemphigus