Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in lichen planus.
BACKGROUND
Lichen planus (LP) is an inflammatory skin disease of unknown aetiology. Recently, increased oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis vulgaris and vitiligo.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the status of the oxidative stress and antioxidant defence system in patients with LP.


METHODS
In total, 40 patients with LP (23 men, 17 women; mean +/- SD age 43.27 +/- 1.96 years) and 40 control subjects, matched for age and gender, were enrolled in this prospective study. The exclusion criteria included medication with immunosuppressive agents, history of trauma and surgery, and history of alcohol ingestion for at least 1 month prior to the study. The serum nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and the erythrocyte catalase (CAT) levels were investigated in both groups.


RESULTS
Mean +/- SD levels of serum NO (74.60 +/- 17.96 micromol/L) and MDA (18.24 +/- 5.21 micromol/L) in patients with LP were higher than those of the control group (P = 0.007 and P = 0.031, respectively). Serum SOD levels (18.19 +/- 3.71 U/mL) in patients with LP were also higher than in healthy controls (P = 0.002). In contrast, erythrocyte CAT levels (13 557.80 +/- 4134.42 U/kg haemoglobin) were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (P = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that increased oxidative stress, increased lipid peroxidation and an imbalance in the antioxidant defence system may be involved in the pathogenesis of LP.
Sezer
E
E
Department of Dermatology, Gaziosmanpasa University School of Medicine, Tokat, Turkey. drensezer@yahoo.com.tr
Ozugurlu
F
F
Ozyurt
H
H
Sahin
S
S
Etikan
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000201:enzymology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*
D000975:Antioxidants; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase