Role of Adenosine Deaminase in Patients with Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea and Demodex folliculorum Positivity

Abstract

Background: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an aminohydrolase involved in the catabolism of purine nucleotides and irreversibly deaminizes adenosine and deoxy-adenosine to inosine and deoxyinosine. ADA enzyme deficiency results in the loss of functional properties of B and T lymphocytes. Demodex species have been reported to be transmitted between humans through close contact and to play a role in the path-ogenesis of rosacea, acne vulgaris, perioral dermatitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, micro-papillary-pruritic dermatitis and blepharitis. The present study aimed to compare serum ADA levels in D. folliculorum positive patients with the healthy control individu-als. Methods: Serum ADA levels were examined for 30 patients diagnosed with ery-thematotelangiectatic rosacea and 40 healthy individuals in Malatya Inonu University in 2017. Standardized skin surface biopsy (SSSB) method was used to diagnose D. folliculorum. A significant decrease was found in the ADA levels of Demodex-positive rosacea patients when compared to the control group. Results: ADA levels were decreased in the Demodex-positive group. The mean ADA level in patient group was significantly lower than the mean in the control group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the patient and control groups in terms of age and gender. Conclusion: During and after treatment of Demodex-positive rosacea patients, de-termination of ADA levels may give more detailed information on the immune mechanisms.