Serum irisin: A prognostic marker for severe acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND

Acne vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease involving pilosebaceous units. Adipokines are secreted by adipose tissue and function as signaling networks communicating it with different organs. They may have role in pathogenesis of acne vulgaris and the associated insulin resistance. Irisin, a hormone like myokine, is one of adipokines with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-diabetic effects.

AIMS

We aimed at evaluation of serum irisin level in patients with acne vulgaris to assess its correlation with disease pathogenesis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Serum irisin level was measured by an ELISA technique in 60 acne vulgaris patients and 60 apparently healthy controls. Insulin resistance was calculated by Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance index.

RESULTS

Serum irisin level was significantly lower in acne vulgaris patients than control group (P < 0.001). It showed a significant negative correlation with insulin resistance among patients (P 0.012). Moreover, it was decreasing significantly with the increase in disease severity (P 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed that lower serum irisin not only to be a biomarker of disease pathogenesis but also to be a potential prognostic predictor for severity in acne vulgaris.