Serum lipide profile and the severity of acne vulgaris at a Moroccan referral hospital

Abstract

Sir, Acne vulgaris (AV) is one of the most frequent concerns in dermatology consultation. It is an inflammatory chronic condition that affects the pilosebaceous follicle. Based on the number and types of lesions, AV is classified as mild, moderate, severe, and highly severe [1]. The pathogenesis of AV is due to multiple factors, such as sebum overproduction, inflammation, colonization by Propionibacterium acnes, hyperkeratinization, the genetic component, and stress [2–4]. It is known that the sebaceous glands produce and secret sebum, which is a combination of complex lipids, such as squalene, triglycerides, wax, and cholesterol, as well as free cholesterol and fatty acids [5]. A number of studies evaluated the relationship between acne vulgaris and the serum lipid profile. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyze the lipid serum profile among Moroccan patients with acne. We prospectively conducted a study between June 2020 and December 2021 at the Mohammed V Military Hospital in Rabat, Morocco. The criteria for inclusion in the study were AV patients aged from thirteen to thirty years. The exclusion criteria were obesity, pregnancy and lactation, oral contraceptives, hormonal therapy, cardiovascular disease, and health conditions affecting lipid metabolism. The clinical data collected from patients included age, sex, weight, and the severity of AV. Acne grading was performed by the same dermatologist according to the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). The patients were required to have been fasting between eight to twelve hours at the time of the blood test. Statistical analysis was performed with JAMOVI. The results were presented as follows: mean ± SD. Descriptive statistics were performed; Student’s t-test, ANOVA, and X2 were used as statistical tests to compare between variables, and p < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant difference.