Autoimmunity and Vitiligo

Abstract

To the Editor.— The autoimmune nature of vitiligo, at least for a certain number of patients, seems to be more and more likely. Previous reports of an increased incidence of organspecific autoantibodies in those patients support this concept. 1-4 The theory has been strengthened recently by the detection of a circulating antibody in two patients with vitiligo, alopecia totalis, mucocutaneous candidiasis, and multiple endocrine insufficiencies, using an immunofluorescent complement-fixation test. This antibody was found bound to melanocytes in human skin, nevus cells, and melanoma cells. 5 We here report our results of a study that aimed to demonstrate the presence of certain organ-specific autoantibodies in patients with vitiligo and the association of this disorder with autoimmune diseases. Patients and Methods.— Eighty-five patients (aged 4 to 78 years) with generalized or localized vitiligo were studied during a period of three years. The patients included in this study were selected on the