Vitiligo after hematopoietic cell transplantation: six cases and review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of vitiligo after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT).


METHODS
The development of vitiligo was analyzed among 421 patients who underwent AHCT in Ibni Sina Hospital (University of Ankara) between 1988 and 2004.


RESULTS
Among 421 patients, we describe 6 with generalized vitiligo occurring after AHCT for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Five of them had severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Vitiligo was accompanied by alopecia areata and acquired ichthyosis in 2 patients with GVHD.


CONCLUSIONS
Melanocyte destruction caused by the autoimmune reactions triggered by chronic GVHD as well as a genetic predisposition might have played a role in the development of vitiligo in our patients. These data support the hypothesis that vitiligo is an autoimmune entity.
Sanli
Hatice
H
Department of Dermatology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Akay
Bengu Nisa
BN
Arat
Mutlu
M
Koçyigit
Pelin
P
Akan
Hamdi
H
Beksac
Meral
M
Ilhan
Osman
O
D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents