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 antidiabetic
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.