Vitiligo, from Pathogenesis to Therapeutic Advances: State of the Art

Overview

Journal Int J Mol Sci

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Biochemistry
Chemistry
Molecular Biology

Date 2023 Mar 11

PMID 36902341

Authors

Federico Diotallevi

Helena Gioacchini

Edoardo De Simoni

Andrea Marani

Matteo Candelora

Matteo Paolinelli

Elisa Molinelli

Annamaria Offidani

Oriana Simonetti

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Vitiligo is an acquired hypopigmentation of the skin due to a progressive selective loss of melanocytes; it has a prevalence of 1-2% and appears as rounded, well-demarcated white macules. The etiopathology of the disease has not been well defined, but multiple factors contribute to melanocyte loss: metabolic abnormalities, oxidative stress, inflammation, and autoimmunity. Therefore, a convergence theory was proposed that combines all existing theories into a comprehensive one in which several mechanisms contribute to the reduction of melanocyte viability. In addition, increasingly in-depth knowledge about the disease's pathogenetic processes has enabled the development of increasingly targeted therapeutic strategies with high efficacy and fewer side effects. The aim of this paper is, by conducting a narrative review of the literature, to analyze the pathogenesis of vitiligo and the most recent treatments available for this condition.

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