Normal-range plasma catecholamines in patients with generalized and acrofacial vitiligo: preliminary report.
BACKGROUND
There is a body of evidence that neutral factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.


OBJECTIVE
We look for the existence of a relationship between vitiligo and monoaminergic systems.


METHODS
We use high-pressure liquid chromatography to measure the plasma level of catecholamines, their precursor 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and their metabolites 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy phenylglycol (MHPG), normetanephrine (NMN), metanephrine and homovanillic acid (HVA). Forty patients with the generalized (n = 31) and acrofacial (n = 9) types of vitiligo are studied.


RESULTS
Significant differences are not found either between males and females or between the entire group of patients and the controls. HVA and NMN levels significantly correlate with age (r = 0.332, p < 0.05, and r = 0.331, p < 0.05, respectively). Significant correlations are also seen either between noradrenergic or between dopaminergic parameters (norepinephrine vs. MHPG, r = 0.326, p < 0.05; dopamine vs. HVA, r = 0.540, p < 0.01). When the patients are grouped on the basis of vitiligo type or age of disease onset, the plasma mean levels of the neural compounds are always nonsignificantly different from those of the controls. However, both catecholamines and metabolites show higher, although not significant, concentrations in patients with a shorter duration of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Monoaminergic systems seem unlikely to be related to vitiligo, at least to the generalized and acrofacial types. However, variations cannot be excluded in genetically predisposed individuals during the onset or the active phases of disease.
Orecchia
G
G
Clinica Dermatologica, dell'Università di Pavia, Italia.
Frattini
P
P
Cucchi
M L
ML
Santagostino
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000097:blood; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005121:Extremities / Q000473:pathology*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008676:Metanephrine / Q000097:blood; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D009647:Normetanephrine / Q000097:blood; D012737:Sex Factors; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
D002395:Catecholamines; D009647:Normetanephrine; D008676:Metanephrine; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid; D004837:Epinephrine