In:
Dermatology, S. Karger AG, Vol. 204, No. 3 ( 2002), p. 194-201
Abstract:
〈 i 〉 Background: 〈 /i 〉 It is well established that ultraviolet radiation is related to non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in Caucasians. Considering that patients with vitiligo have often no protective pigment in sun-exposed depigmented/white skin together with severe oxidative stress due to accumulation of millimolar epidermal hydrogen peroxide (H 〈 sub 〉 2 〈 /sub 〉 O 〈 sub 〉 2 〈 /sub 〉 ), it would be expected that these patients develop a higher risk for early photodamage and NMSC. However, scattered reports on low patient numbers documented no increased risk for sun-induced skin cancers in this disease. 〈 i 〉 Objective: 〈 /i 〉 The aim of this study was to validate the possible photodamage and the development of epidermal neoplasia in a randomly selected larger patient group with emphasis on each patient’s sun sensitivity and the history of solar habits. Furthermore we wished to compare histological signs for epidermal photodamage in a random representative patient group (mean age 〉 30 years) and age-matched healthy controls. 〈 i 〉 Methods: 〈 /i 〉 One hundred and thirty-six randomly selected patients (females n = 93; males n = 43; mean age 42.4 years, range 14–70 years) were included in this study. To assess signs of photodamage and skin cancer, all patients underwent a thorough full-body examination by Wood’s light and dermatoscopy. In order to learn about each patient’s individual sun sensitivity and solar habits, a direct questionnaire was used. In addition full skin punch biopsies of sun-exposed depigmented/pigmented skin were taken under local anaesthesia and evaluated by light microscopy. 〈 i 〉 Results: 〈 /i 〉 There was no evidence for sun-related damage in the entire patient group, despite a significant number of positive cases with a history of sunburns in early childhood and continuous accumulation of epidermal H 〈 sub 〉 2 〈 /sub 〉 O 〈 sub 〉 2 〈 /sub 〉 . Histological examination of the epidermis showed no signs of increased photo-ageing and confirmed the absence of apoptosis in these patients. Furthermore surprisingly there was no increased risk for photosensitivity disorders, i.e. polymorphous light reaction, solar urticaria and acute actinic dermatitis. 〈 i 〉 Conclusion: 〈 /i 〉 The results of this study confirm in a large group of patients with vitiligo the absence of an expected high risk for sun-induced damage and skin cancer. Based on these results together with a recent report on increased functional wild-type p53 expression in these patients we would like to propose that in vitiligo there may be a direct association between this important tumour suppressor and the absence of photodamage and NMSC.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1018-8665
,
1421-9832
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
2002
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1482189-8
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