title: [Vitiligo: Clinical presentation and pathogenesis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder with depigmentation of circumscribed areas due to structural and functional damage to melanocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is international consensus on the classification in nonsegmental and segmental vitiligo. The influence of vitiligo on the quality of life is significant and is influenced by ethnic and sociocultural factors. There is a new insight into the genetic susceptibility, mechanisms and targets of the autoimmune inflammation, the altered morphology and function of melanocytes and into the association of vitiligo with other autoimmune diseases, skin cancer and skin cancer therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recognition of associated autoimmune disorders is as important as is the assessment of changes in the quality of life. New insight into the pathogenesis may have therapeutic consequences. The relationship between vitiligo and skin cancer and between vitiligo and immunotherapies in patients with metastatic melanoma warrants close clinical monitoring of affected patients and further scientific studies.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schild
authors.affiliation: Stiftung zur Förderung der Hochschulmedizin in Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Deutschland. michael.meurer@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meurer
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003880:Dermatology / Q000592:standards*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Autoimmune diseases; Diagnostic workup; Differential diagnoses; Quality of life; Skin cancer