| SYMPOSIUM - VITILIGO |
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| Year : 2012 | Volume
: 78
| Issue : 1 | Page : 24--29 |
On the pathophysiology of vitiligo: Possible treatment options
Raymond E Boissy1, Maria Lucia Dell'Anna2, Mauro Picardo2
1 Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
2 Cutaneous Physiopathology and CIRM San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute-IFO, Rome, Italy
Correspondence Address:
Mauro Picardo
Cutaneous Physiopathology and CIRM, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute-IFO, via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00100 Rome
Italy
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0378-6323.90943
Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting disorder usually classified as non-segmental and segmental types with a higher incidence of the non-segmental ones. The cause of non-segmental vitiligo is still unknown. Currently, it is a dogma that there are several genes affecting the immune system and the pigment system that predisposes someone to develop vitiligo. A precipitating factor must then ellicit an interaction between the immune system and the melanocyte, resulting in destruction of the melanocyte population in discrete areas of the skin. Starting from the overlapping but distinct pathomechanisms, treatment should be finalized to the cellular targets and possibly related to the disease phase.
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