Evaluation of the serum level of Lipocalin 2 in vitiligo

Vitiligo is considered as depigmenting skin disorder where patches of skin losing their pigment. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is one of the Inflammatory adipokines that has a potential role in skin disorders and other inflammatory diseases as well. To measure the concentration level of LCN2 in vitiligo patients compared to healthy controls and to investigate its relation to disease activity and other clinical data to evaluate its role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Eighty individuals subdivided equally into two groups (vitiligo and controls) were enrolled in the study. The serum level of LCN2 was measured by ELISA where from all participants, a 5-mL venous blood was withdrawn in plain tube from each subject. There were high significant difference of LCN2 in serum between both groups where LCN2 was higher in vitiligo patients than than controls with mean and standard deviations of 399.2 ± 134.6 and 257.2 ± 42.5 respectively (p < 0.001). The level of LCN2 tended to increase in vitiligo patients with sudden onset than gradual patients showing a significant difference with p-value 0.030. Regarding the severity of the disease results showed that the level of LCN2 tended to increase in moderate and severe patients than mild but with no significant difference between the groups. LCN2 may play a vital role and a good marker for the early diagnosis and the pathogenesis of vitiligo disease.