Interleukin 1α and interleukin 18 in patients with vitiligo - Results of a case-control study.

Introduction: Vitiligo is a depigmenting disorder resulting from loss of functional melanocytes in the skin. Variety of inflammatory mediators participate in the regulation of melanogenesis in melanocytes: interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-33, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, interferon-γ, prostaglandin E2 have the effect of promoting melanogenesis, while interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-4, interleukin-6, interleukin-17 and tumor necrosis factor can inhibit melanogenesis.

Aim: Evaluation of IL-1α and IL-18 levels in peripheral blood in patients with vitiligo compared to healthy controls.

A case-control study on immunologic markers of patients with vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a depigmentation skin disease often coexisting with other autoimmune disorders. The prevalence is 0.5-2 % of the world's population.