Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune depigmenting disorder characterized by the selective destruction of epidermal melanocytes. Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 10 (IL-10), play a pivotal role in its pathogenesis. Quantifying these cytokines and assessing their ratio may aid in disease prognosis and therapeutic monitoring.
To evaluate the association between the IFN-γ:IL-10 ratio and the clinical as well as histopathologic characteristics of stable and unstable vitiligo.
A hospital-based prospective case-control study was conducted during 1 year (2023–2024) on 70 patients with active vitiligo and 30 healthy controls. Serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 were quantified, and their correlations with clinical severity, disease stability, and histopathologic grading were analyzed.
Unstable vitiligo cases demonstrated significantly higher histopathologic scores (≥3 in 39.62% versus 0% in stable cases, P = .002). IFN-γ levels were markedly elevated in unstable vitiligo (11.9 ± 2.56 versus 10.58 ± 1.04 pg/mL, P = .003) and in patients with a histopathologic score 3 or higher (13.35 ± 3.21 versus 10.84 ± 1.34 pg/mL, P = .002). The IFN-γ:IL-10 ratio was also significantly higher in these groups.
Differentiating stable from unstable vitiligo is essential for optimal disease management. Cytokine profiling, particularly IFN-γ and IL-10 levels, offers a minimally invasive biomarker for assessing disease activity and monitoring therapeutic response.
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Funded by Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India.
Competing Interests
The authors have no relevant financial interest in the products or companies described in this article.