Vitiligo after hematopoietic cell transplantation: Six cases and review of the literature

ŞANLI H., Akay B. N., Arat M., KOÇYİĞİT P., Akan H., BEKSAÇ M., ...More

DERMATOLOGY, vol.216, no.4, pp.349-354, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 216 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Doi Number: 10.1159/000117705
  • Journal Name: DERMATOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.349-354
  • Keywords: graft-versus-host disease, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, vitiligo, BONE-MARROW-TRANSPLANTATION, VERSUS-HOST DISEASE, GENERALIZED VITILIGO, AUTOIMMUNE-DISEASES, INTERFERON-GAMMA, GRAFT, LEUKODERMA, INTERLEUKIN-6, MELANOCYTES, MELANOMA
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Aim: 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. Conclusion: 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. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.