Ultrastructural study of vitiligo.
BACKGROUND
Vitiligo is a relatively common skin disease characterised by development of patchy depigmented macules. A comparative ultrastructural study was undertaken between early developing (2-6 months duration) and long standing (1-5 years duration) lesions of vitiligo in a series of ten patients.


METHODS
Skin biopsy specimens from the ten patients were fixed, stained, and examined under an electron microscope.


RESULTS
No melanocytes were found in the sections taken from long standing lesions. The sections from early lesions showed junctional melanocytes exhibiting various cellular abnormalities. The epidermal keratinocytes were normal in all sections; however, some sections from the periphery of early lesions exhibited minor degenerative changes.


CONCLUSIONS
We can assume that because of the absence of melanocytes in long standing lesions, repigmentation may occur only from the melanocytic reservoir in the hair follicles. Repigmentation may also occur in lesions of short duration by reactivation of melanocytes present in the area, so an attempt should be made to treat vitiligo lesions in their early stage.
Galadari
E
E
Department of Dermatology, United Arab Emirates University, Dubai.
Mehregan
A H
AH
Hashimoto
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013997:Time Factors; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000473:pathology*