Assessment of the immune system in 55 Iranian patients with vitiligo

Background Vitiligo is an acquired idiopathic hypomelanotic disorder characterized by circumscribed depigmented macules resulting from the loss of cutaneous melanocytes. Objective In order to evaluate the immune system of Iranian patients with vitiligo, this study was accomplished. Methods Fifty-five Iranian patients with vitiligo and 60 healthy persons as control were investigated in this study. The laboratory techniques were included: antimelanocyte antibody (AMA) and antinuclear antibody (ANA) with indirect immunoflorescent test, C3 and C4 levels with single radial immunodiffusion (SRID), and rheumatoid factor (RF) with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results AMA was positive in 17 patients (30.9%) and was negative in the entire control group (P < 0.0001). ANA was positive in 4 patients (7.3%), which was insignificantly higher than control group (1.7%). IgM-RF was positive in 6 patients (10.8%) while it was negative in the entire control group (P = 0.027). C3 and C4 values decreased in 14 patients (25.5%), which was significantly higher than control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion The important role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of vitiligo could be suggested. In addition, the autoimmune hypothesis of vitiligo could be confirmed based on the results of this study.