Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Vitiligo is a disorder of pigmentation characterized by the presence of depigmented skin macules. Cellular immunity is known to have a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a potent activator of macrophages and is considered to play an important role in cell-mediated immunity.

AIMS:

To determine serum level of MIF in patients with vitiligo and compare with healthy controls. We also aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between MIF levels and the disease duration, clinical vitiligo and involved body surface area (BSA) in patients with vitiligo.

METHODS:

The study group comprised 30 patients with vitiligo (14 men, 16 women) and 30 healthy controls, matched for age and gender. Blood samples were taken for MIF analysis.

RESULTS:

The mean serum level of MIF in patients with vitiligo (40.83 +/- 31.66 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that of the control group (21.00 +/- 6.48 pg/mL) (P = 0.002). There was a positive correlation between disease duration and MIF levels (r = 0.601, P < 0.001). Mean MIF level of patients with acral and acrofacial vitiligo (n = 6) was 48.25 +/- 32.02 pg/mL, and of patients generalized vitiligo (n = 18) was 44.46 +/- 35.25 pg/mL. There was no significant difference between these two groups (P > 0.05). However there was a significant difference in MIF levels between patients with localized (20.41 +/- 5.23, n = 5) and acral-acrofacial (P = 0.02) vitiligo and those with generalized (P = 0.006) vitiligo. There was no relationship between BSA and MIF levels.

CONCLUSIONS:

Mean serum MIF level of patients with vitiligo was higher than that of controls, indicating that MIF has a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.