Vitiligo

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 38; no. 5; pp. 647 - 668
• Main Author: Kovacs, Stephen O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01-05-1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Autoimmune Diseases - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Death; Cosmetics - therapeutic use; Dermatology; Disease Susceptibility; Furocoumarins - therapeutic use; Humans; Medical sciences; Melanins - biosynthesis; Melanocytes - metabolism; Melanocytes - pathology; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - complications; Pigmentary diseases of the skin; PUVA Therapy; Skin Transplantation; Vitiligo - etiology; Vitiligo - genetics; Vitiligo - immunology; Vitiligo - pathology; Vitiligo - psychology; Vitiligo - therapy; Human; Symptomatology; Skin disease; Vitiligo; Pigmentation disorder; Treatment; Pathogenesis; Review; Melanogenesis; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/S0190-9622(98)70194-X

The destruction of melanocytes is the cause of depigmented maculae that clinically represent the disease
vitiligo . Although the cause is unknown, various theories such as the autoimmune, autocytotoxic, and neural hypotheses have been proposed. Extensive research has provided numerous answers regarding the pathogenesis, histopathologic evidence, and treatment of vitiligo. This discussion of vitiligo summarizes the varied clinical presentations of the disease, theories attempting to explain the mechanism of melanocyte destruction, histopathologic findings, and different treatment modalities currently available. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:647-66.)
Learning Objective: At the conclusion of this learning activity, participants should be familiar with the clinical and histopathologic presentations of vitiligo, the etiologic hypotheses of the disease, and the treatment options.