Total leucoderma: a rare manifestation of cutaneous chronic graft-versus-host disease.
We describe a 14-year-old boy who developed total leucoderma during the course of chronic graft-versus-host disease, which developed after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Skin biopsy and dihydroxy-phenylalanine staining revealed a total absence of melanocytes from the epidermis. Cytotoxic anti-melanocyte antibodies were found in the patient's serum, and this probably explains the development of the leucoderma.
Nagler
A
A
Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
Goldenhersh
M A
MA
Levi-Schaffer
F
F
Bystryn
J C
JC
Klaus
S N
SN
D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D008543:Melanins