Glutathione Peroxidase Level in Patients with Vitiligo: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract EN

Abnormality of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is involved in the etiology and pathogenesis of vitiligo.

However, the results were controversial.

Aim.

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare the levels of GPx between vitiligo patients and healthy controls.

Methods.

Relevant published articles were searched according to eligibility criteria.

A meta-analysis was conducted to pool estimates of the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results.

Twenty-three studies with a total of 1076 vitiligo patients and 770 healthy controls were included.

The pooled meta-analysis showed that patients with vitiligo had equivalent levels of GPx with the healthy controls (SMD = −0.47, 95% CI: −1.03 to 0.08, and p=0.095).

Further subgroup analysis showed that the GPx levels of Asian patients or segmental vitiligo patients were, respectively, lower than those of healthy controls (Asian: SMD = −0.47, 95% CI: −1.08 to 0.14, and p=0.001; segmental: SMD = −3.59, 95% CI: −6.38 to −0.80, and p=0.012).

Furthermore, the GPx levels in serum/plasma were significantly decreased in either stable or active vitiligo patients, comparing to healthy controls (stable: SMD = −2.01, 95% CI: −3.52 to −0.49, and p=0.009; active: SMD = −2.34, 95% CI: −4.07 to −0.61, and p=0.008).

Conclusion.

This meta-analysis showed a significant association between low GPx level and vitiligo.