Evaluating Interferon γ to Interleukin 10 Ratio as a Biomarker for Stability and Severity in Vitiligo: A Clinical and Histopathologic Correlation.

Abstract

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 of 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.