Leptin in Vitiligo: An Exploration of its Role in Disease Pathogenesis

Abdel-Majeed, Wafaa Mohamed; Hassan, Mohammed H.; Alrawy, Doaa Zaghloul Amin; Mohamed‬‏, ‪Rasha Ismail

doi:10.21608/svuijm.2025.361746.2120

Leptin in Vitiligo: An Exploration of its Role in Disease Pathogenesis

Document Type : Original research articles

Authors

¹ Dermatology, Venereology and Andrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.

² Department of Medical Biochemistry , Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt

10.21608/svuijm.2025.361746.2120

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is an important depigmenting skin disease, in which there is selective loss of melanocytes, which in turn leads milky white skin lesions.
Objectives: To evaluate serum leptin levels in vitiligo patients with and without obesity, compared to obese non-vitiligo patients and healthy controls.
Patients and methods; in this case –control study, a total of 344 patients aged > 18 years who were eligible for inclusion in the current study. They were categorized into four groups (Group A: vitiligo patients with obesity, Group B: vitiligo patients without obesity, Group C: Obese patients without vitiligo and Group D: control participants without vitiligo or obesity).
Results: Serum leptin level was higher in obese patient. In the obese group (Group C), leptin levels showed significant positive correlations with age, anthropometric measures (weight, BMI, waist circumference), and a negative correlation with smoking. The regression analysis revealed strong independent association between serum leptin levels and obesity in vitiligo patients, there were strong positive correlation between serum leptin levels and disease duration, VASI score, and markers of obesity (BMI, waist circumference, central obesity index).
Conclusion: Elevated serum leptin level in vitiligo patient either (obese or non-obese) than obese non-vitiligo individuals and healthy controls. This elevation is significantly higher in obese vitiligo patients compared to others with strong association between leptin levels and markers of obesity, vitiligo duration, and severity suggests that leptin dysregulation may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of vitiligo, particularly in the context of obesity.

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