Sugita K, Izu K, Tokura Y
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.
Clin Exp Dermatol. 2006 Jan;31(1):80-2. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2005.01987.x.
A 31-year-old man had had atopic dermatitis since childhood and developed vitiligo with inflammatory raised borders 5 years prior to presentation. Immunohistochemically, CD4+ T cells infiltrated predominantly in the raised border of vitiligo, while CD8+ T cells were present just outside of the borders, suggesting that CD8+ cells were an antecedent to the CD4+ cells. Despite the presence of atopic dermatitis, the percentage of CXCR3+ CD4+ Th1 cells increased in the patient's peripheral blood, compared with a representative atopic patient showing a high percentage of CCR4+CD4+ Th2 cells. This case suggests that vitiligo with inflammatory raised borders can occur even in patients with atopic dermatitis when Th1 cells are activated and overcome the Th2-dominant state.
