Influence of helio- and thalassotherapy on the superoxide dismutase activity in psoriatic and vitiligo patients

Journal/Book: XXIe Congrès international de Thalassothérapie Hammamet (Tunisie) 30 janvier-2 février 2000 S. 88. 2000;

Abstract: E. HRISTAKIEVA* V. GADJEVA S. POPOVA and T. VLAYKOVA Department of Dermatology* Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Medical Faculty Thracian University Stara Zagora Bulgaria Oxygen free radicals including superoxide radicals (O2.-) are probably involved in the pathogenesis of vitiligo an acquired depigmenting skin disorder and psoriasis a chronic inflammatory skin disease. We have already reported a significantly increased the level of lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde MDA) in the plasma of vitiligo and psoriasis patients. It could be associated with compensatory changes in the levels of some anti-oxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD). Bulgaria is a country with four seasons and with a significant influence of the Black Sea on its climate. Summers are long (about 4 months) hot dry and with intensive sun irradiation. Patients suffering from both vitiligo and psoriasis have frequently clinical improvement during the summer. Helio- and thalassotherapy are kind of the treatment proposed for these diseases. In the current study we explored the effect of both the sun exposure and the sea-bathing during the summer on the activity of SOD. Forty patients ( 18 with vitiligo and 22 with psoriasis) were included in this study. The mean age was 35 years (range 13-58). Patients were separated in two groups: "summer" and "autumn". Most of the patients had vacation on the Black sea coast for at least 10 days. Sixteen normal healthy volunteers aged between 14 to 55 years of either sex formed the control group. The level of erythrocyte SOD in healthy volunteers and patients was estimated using nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test based on the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium by O2.-. Our results demonstrated that there was not a significant difference of SOD activity between "summer" and "autumn" control groups (mean 13.40 vs 18.85 p = 0.15). SOD activity in "autumn" group was decreased in patients with either vitiligo or psoriasis compared to controls. The level of SOD in patients with vitiligo was lower but not significantly than this of the control (mean 11.78 U/mg Hb vs 16.12 U/mg Hb p = 0.23). ... wt

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