title: The pathogenesis of vitiligo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitiligo is a commonly encountered pigmentary disorder. Numerous studies and investigations from all over the world have attempted to determine the mechanisms behind this disease; however, the pathogenesis of vitiligo remains elusive.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  n this comprehensive review article, we present the findings behind the five overarching theories of what causes this disfiguring and psychologically debilitating disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We begin our discussion with the role of genetic predisposition and move onward to the neural theory first proposed in the 1950s. Next we discuss the autoimmune hypothesis, followed by the reactive oxygen species model, and conclude by describing the findings of the more recent melanocytorrhagy hypothesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the exact pathogenesis of vitiligo is uncertain, each of these theories likely plays a role. Understanding each theory would pave the way for therapeutic advances for this disease.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: Neel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dytoc
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species