Interleukin-38 Serum Level in Nonsegmental Vitiligo Patients and its Correlation with Disease Activity and Disease Severity

Background Vitiligo is a multifactorial disease in which autoimmunity plays a central role. Interleukin (IL)-38, an innate immune cytokine secreted by keratinocytes and other cells, is believed to have a role in vitiligo progression. Aim To assess the serum levels of IL-38 in cases with non-segmental vitiligo and to examine its correlation to disease severity and disease activity. Methods This case control study included 60 patients with vitiligo and 20 healthy subjects as a control group. According to the disease severity, the cases were allocated into three groups: mild, moderate and severe. Each group included 20 patients. The affected body surface area (BSA) was estimated to determine the disease severity and vitiligo disease activity score (VIDA) was calculated to determine the disease activity. Serum interleukin-38 level was measured using ELISA. Results The mean serum IL-38 level was significantly higher in the patient’s group as compared to the control group. Patients with severe diseases were statistically significantly older, had statistically significant longer lasting lesion duration and had highest IL-38 levels as compared with mild and moderate disease severity. There was a significant positive relationship between IL-38 and duration of new lesions, duration of disease, PSA and VIDA Score. Conclusion Interleukin-38 level is significantly elevated in vitiligo cases and is correlated significantly with disease severity. Interleukin-38 could be a talented biomarker to monitor disease activity among vitiligo cases and could be a talented therapeutic target in terms of vitiligo management.