Abraham Z, Rozenbaum M, Glück Z, Feuerman E J, Lahat N, Kinarty A
Department of Dermatology, Reish Policlinic, Haifa, Israel.
J Dermatol. 1993 Jul;20(7):418-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.1993.tb01310.x.
A patient with a 46-year history of vitiligo who also presented rheumatoid arthritis and pernicious anemia is described. Meticulous physical examination excluded further systemic or cutaneous involvement. The immunological workup revealed a low CD4 cell percentage with T cells mostly composed of CD8 cells, a discrepancy between the high percentage of cumulative CD4 + CD8 cells and the measured CD3 proportions, very low NK cytotoxicity toward K562 cells, and almost negligible responses to PHA, Con A and PWM mitogens. The results point to severe T and NK cell functional defects. The pathogenetic significance of these data is discussed.
