الفهرس 
VitiligoOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Vitiligo is a cutaneous hypomelanosis, accompanied by melanocyte loss and characterized by loss of functioning epidermal melanocytes. In almost half of the patients, vitiligo starts before the age of 20 years however it can be seen at any age group.
It is a long-term problem in which growing patches of skin lose their color. The patches appear when melanocytes within the skin die off. Melanocytes are the cells responsible for producing the skin pigment, melanin, which gives skin its color and protects it from the sun’s UV rays.
Pathogenesis of vitiligo is complex. Although several theories have been proposed about the pathogenesis of vitiligo, the precise cause remains unknown. Generally agreed upon principles are an absence of functional melanocytes in vitiligo skin and a loss of histochemically recognized melanocytes, owing to their destruction. However, the destruction is most likely a slow process resulting in a progressive decrease of melanocytes.
The MIF is a protein that promotes the activation of immune cells and the production of other proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ, which have proposed to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha, a paracrine inhibitor of human melanocyte proliferation and melanogenesis. It affects the apoptotic pathway of melanocytes and its level may play an important role in vitiligo pathogenesis. Moreover, TNF-α can inhibit melanocyte stem cell differentiation.
The aim of this study was to asses serum level of MIF and TNF-α in nonsegmental vitiligo in comparison with normal healthy control subjects and to correlate the findings with the available clinical data.
This study was conducted on 41 patients with non –segmental vitiligo from both sexes and different age groups. Patient was collected from Dermatology and Andrology Outpatient Clinic Menoufia University Hospital. 41 age and sex matched healthy volunteers were enrolled as the control group.
Results of the present study showed that:
• There was significant difference between cases and controls regarding serum MIF, which was significantly higher in cases than the controls (P value <0.001).
• Regarding serum TNF-α, it was significantly higher in cases than controls.
• There was significant positive correlation between serum MIF and serum TNF-α.
• Within the vitiligo group, there was statistically significant association between serum MIF and both duration of the disease (P≤0.001) and its severity (assessed by VASI score) (P≤0.001) denoting that severe form of vitiligo is associated with high values of serum MIF.
• Within vitiligo group, there was no significant correlation between serum MIF and disease activity (assessed by VIDA score).
• There was statistically significant correlation between serum TNF-α and both duration of the disease (P≤0.001) and its severity (assessed by VASI score) (P≤0.001).