Elevated Serum Endocan Levels in Patients with Rosacea: A New Therapeutic Target?

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease whose etiopathogenesis is still unknown. Previous studies have shown a relationship between certain inflammatory disorders and serum endocan levels. Endocan (previously known as endothelial cell-specific molecule 1) might play a role in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to evaluate serum endocan levels in patients with rosacea to investigate the association of endocan with the demographic data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study recruited individuals aged ≥18 years who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. The participants included 37 women (mean age 48.29 ± 12.08 years) and 13 men (mean age 52.23 ± 13.34 years) diagnosed with rosacea, and 37 women (mean age 49.18 ± 16.6 years) and 13 men (mean age 53.69 ± 11.30 years) selected as controls. Both groups were matched according to age and sex. The rosacea diagnosis was based on clinical examination findings, and serum endocan levels were measured using the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The statistical significance of the data was determined by the Mann-Whitney U test, and a value of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Serum endocan levels differed significantly between the patients with rosacea and the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Circulating endocan might be a new marker related to disease progression in patients with rosacea. Further investigation is needed to determine whether endocan levels could become a new therapeutic target in rosacea, a disease that still cannot be fully cured.