Vitiligo – The story from within: A transmission electron microscopic study before and after narrow-band ultraviolet B. (2nd September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fawzy, Marwa M.; El Maadawi, Zeinab M.; Hegazy, Rehab A.; El Fatah, Nesrin S. Abd
• Is Part Of: Ultrastructural pathology. Volume 40:Number 5(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 265
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2016-09-02
• Subjects: Narrow-band ultraviolet B -- transmission electron microscopy -- vitiligo; Pathology, Cellular -- Periodicals; Ultrastructure (Biology) -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Electron microscopic -- Periodicals; Microscopy, Electron; Pathology; 616.07582
• DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2016.1218987
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-3123

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Melanocyte loss is the main feature of vitiligo, but evidence refers to pathological multiplayers. Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to further explore vitiligo before and after narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy. Skin biopsies were retrieved from lesional and perilesional skin and compared to normal control skin. Sections were examined for melanocytes and keratinocytes and the number of melanosomes and thickness of basal lamina were measured. In lesional skin, keratinocytes revealed two types of degeneration with a significant increase in the mean thickness of basal lamina and decrease in the number of melanosomes. After treatment, lesional and perilesional skin showed variable ultrastructural features.