Relationship Between Serum Xanthine Oxidase Levels and Seborrheic Keratosis

Overview

This observational study aims to examine the relationship between serum xanthine oxidase (XO) levels and seborrheic keratosis (SK), a common benign skin tumor, especially in middle-aged and older adults. The pathogenesis of SK remains unclear, but oxidative stress is believed to play a role. XO is an enzyme that contributes to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause oxidative damage in the skin. A total of 80 participants will be included in the study, consisting of 40 patients diagnosed with SK and 40 healthy individuals as controls. Each participant will undergo clinical and dermoscopic examination, followed by blood sampling to measure serum XO levels using ELISA. The study will be conducted at the Dermatology and Venereology Clinic of Prof. dr. Chairuddin Panusunan Lubis Universitas Sumatera Utara Hospital from October 2023 to June 2024. This study has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara.

Seborrheic keratosis (SK) is one of the most common benign skin tumors observed in dermatology practice. Although SK is not malignant, its appearance can be concerning to patients, particularly when lesions are numerous or located on visible areas such as the face. The exact cause of SK is unknown, but multiple factors such as age, genetics, ultraviolet (UV) exposure, and oxidative stress have been implicated. This observational study is designed to investigate the potential association between serum xanthine oxidase (XO) levels and the presence of SK. XO is a pro-oxidant enzyme involved in purine metabolism that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. These ROS may play a role in oxidative stress, which is thought to contribute to various skin aging processes and possibly to benign epidermal proliferative conditions like SK. A total of 80 participants are included in the study: 40 patients diagnosed with SK and 40 healthy controls without SK. Participants are between 18 and 50 years old and recruited from the dermatology outpatient clinic. All subjects undergo clinical and dermoscopic examination for confirmation of diagnosis. Blood samples are collected from all participants, and serum XO levels are measured using a validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria are applied to minimize confounding variables, such as the presence of other dermatologic conditions, systemic illnesses, or recent antioxidant treatment. This protocol is aimed at providing foundational data to explore the biochemical basis of SK and the potential involvement of oxidative mechanisms.