Simvastatin and Nonsegmental Vitiligo Study

For patients with nonsegmental vitiligo (NSV) and dyslipidemia, a daily regimen of simvastatin 80 mg could be a helpful treatment, is the conclusion drawn from a study published in Dermatologic Therapy. Simvastatin controls vitiligo activity and protects against the dangerous effects of dyslipidemia.

Metabolic disturbances in vitiligo are potentially the results of a decrease in melanogenesis and melanocytes of the adipose tissue. These metabolic disturbances may be seen in patients with vitiligo.

There needs to be more data on the influence of systemic statins on vitiliginous lesions in NSV patients. Statins are lipid-lowering medications that lower illness and mortality in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease. According to the authors, no other studies have considered the link between lipid disturbances in vitiligo and vitiligo disease activity (VIDA) score.

Against the above background, Engi Seif E. Shaker, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt, and colleagues aimed to examine the impact of simvastatin on vitiliginous lesions in NSV patients with dyslipidemia and assess the correlation between VIDA score and lipid profile.

The clinical trial was initiated with 120 patients with nonsegmental vitiligo; 79 patients had dyslipidemia. They received daily simvastatin 80 mg (till lipid profile normalization for four months), and only 63 patients continued till the study ended. The vitiligo area severity index, lipid profile, and VIDA were assessed before and six months after the end of simvastatin use.

Study Findings

• Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein, and LDL/HDL ratio showed statistically significant increases in the NSV than in the control group.
• The authors observed a statistically significant positive correlation between VIDA and serum levels of TC and LDL and with LDL/HDL ratio. Simvastatin significantly improved the lipid profile and significantly decreased VIDA.
• They also found a moderate negative correlation between the decrease in VIDA and the disease duration (r = −0.562).

"Simvastatin 80 mg daily could be a useful treatment for nonsegmental vitiligo patients with dyslipidemia, controlling the vitiligo activity and protecting against the dangerous effects of dyslipidemia," the researchers wrote in their study. "Better results can be obtained in patients with short duration of the disease."

Reference

The study, "Simvastatin and nonsegmental vitiligo: A new potential treatment option?," was published in the journal Dermatologic Therapy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.15969