Serum Granulysin Levels in Vitiligo and Alopecia Areata: A Potential Biomarker for Disease Activity and Dermoscopic Evaluation

September 2025 in “ Journal of Clinical Medicine ”

Hayam Ali AlRasheed, Amira Aboelmakarem Korkor, Yasmina Ahmed El Attar, Rowida Raafat Yousef, Mostafa M. Bahaa, Zainab Abdel Samad Ibrahim

granulysin vitiligo alopecia areata biomarker dermoscopic evaluation Vitiligo Disease Activity score GNLY AA

Studysummary This study found that patients with vitiligo and alopecia areata had significantly higher serum granulysin levels compared to healthy controls, indicating a potential pathogenic role and suggesting that elevated levels may serve as a biomarker for monitoring disease activity, particularly in active vitiligo cases. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This study examined serum granulysin (GNLY) levels in 80 participants, including 65 patients with vitiligo or alopecia areata (AA) and 15 healthy controls, to evaluate its potential as a biomarker for disease activity. Results indicated that GNLY levels were significantly higher in patients with active vitiligo and AA compared to stable cases and controls, suggesting its role in monitoring these autoimmune conditions. The study also found a strong correlation between GNLY levels and clinical indices like the Vitiligo Disease Activity (VIDA) score, highlighting GNLY's potential in assessing disease severity and aiding in personalized patient management. Despite limitations such as a modest sample size, the findings propose GNLY as a promising marker for disease activity and a potential therapeutic target.

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