title: Follicular vitiligo: A report of 8 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Follicular vitiligo, a recently proposed new subtype of vitiligo, has primary involvement of the hair follicle melanocytic reservoir.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to characterize follicular vitiligo through a case series of 8 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with features of follicular vitiligo who were seen at the vitiligo clinic in the National Center for Rare Skin Disorders in Bordeaux, France, were recruited. A retrospective review of case records and clinical photographs was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 8 male patients with a mean age of 48 years. All patients reported significant whitening of their body and, in some, scalp hairs before cutaneous depigmentation. Examination revealed classic generalized depigmented lesions of vitiligo and an impressive presence of leukotrichia, not only in the vitiliginous areas, but also in areas with clinically normal-appearing skin. Punch biopsy specimen of the leukotrichia and vitiligo lesions demonstrated loss of melanocytes and precursors in the basal epidermis and hair follicle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was a cross-sectional study based on a single-center experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Follicular vitiligo is a distinct entity within the spectrum of vitiligo. This entity may serve as the missing link between alopecia areata and vitiligo, with probable physiopathological similarities between these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology, National Center for Rare Skin Disorders, Hôpital Pellegrin-Enfants and Hôpital Saint André, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; National Skin Center, Singapore. Electronic address: emily.ganyp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emily Yiping
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1035, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cario-André
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1035, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pain
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hôpital Haut-Lévêque, Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Goussot
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology, National Center for Rare Skin Disorders, Hôpital Pellegrin-Enfants and Hôpital Saint André, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Inserm U1035, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taïeb
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology, National Center for Rare Skin Disorders, Hôpital Pellegrin-Enfants and Hôpital Saint André, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Inserm U1035, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seneschal
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology, National Center for Rare Skin Disorders, Hôpital Pellegrin-Enfants and Hôpital Saint André, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Inserm U1035, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ezzedine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology*; D006200:Hair Color; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alopecia areata; follicular vitiligo; leukotrichia; nonsegmental; poliosis; vitiligo