Immunopathology of vitiligo vulgaris, Sutton's leukoderma and melanoma-associated vitiligo in relation to steroid effects. I. Circulating antibodies for cultured melanoma cells.

Sera of patients with various types of vitiligo have been found to contain circulating antibodies for the cytoplasmic components of human melanoma cell lines. This incidence is high, especially in generalized vitiligo vulgaris with or without Sutton's phenomenon. There is good correlation between the antibodies and positive microsome test, thyroid test, DNA test, as well as the effect of steroid ointment.