Histopathology of vitiligo

A total of twenty one patients with vitiligo was studied, shave biopsies were taken both from early lesion [stage I] and late lesions [stage II] of depigmentation. Haematoxilin Eosin and Fontana stains were carried out on all sections. Melanin pigment was found in the basal layer of the epidermis in stage I with either very slight reduction or partial absence while there was almost complete absence of melanin in stage II of the disease. The histopathology showed marked inflammatory response mainly lymphocytic perivascular infiltrate in the dermis with epidermal invasion. These changes were more intense in stage I. Also there was perifollicular lymphocytic infiltrate with invasion into the follicular wall