title: Vitiligo after hematopoietic cell transplantation: six cases and review of the literature.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sanli
authors.forename: Bengu Nisa
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Akay
authors.forename: Mutlu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arat
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koçyigit
authors.forename: Hamdi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akan
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beksac
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ilhan
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents