Wiete Westerhof

In 54 healthy volunteers we assessed predictors of sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light, including Fitzpatrick's sun reactive skin types and constitutional skin color, and compared these with one another and with responses of the skin to UV irradiation, as determined experimentally by a minimal erythema dose (MED), a minimal melanogenic dose (MMD), and dose-response curves for UV-induced erythema and pigmentation. For these studies, a xenon arc solar simulator was used as the source of ...

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition characterized by loss of epidermal melanocytes. High frequencies of melanocyte-reactive cytotoxic T cells in the peripheral blood of vitiligo patients and the observed correlation between perilesional T-cell infiltration and melanocyte loss in situ suggest the important role of cellular autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of this disease. We isolated T cells from both perilesional and nonlesional skin biopsies obtained from five vitiligo patients, then ...

BACKGROUND: Monobenzylether of hydroquinone is used worldwide to remove residual pigment in patients with vitiligo universalis. Because of the side effects reported with this drug, the use of monobenzylether of hydroquinone has been restricted in The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and safety of a combination therapy consisting of topical 4-methoxyphenol (4-MP) cream and Q-switched ruby (QSR) laser in 16 patients with vitiligo ...

BACKGROUND: NB-UVB phototherapy is a very important modality in treating vitiligo but the treatment course usually exceeds 1 year. Skin ablation with mechanical dermabrasion with 5Fluorouracil (5FU) was introduced to treat vitiligo in 1983. This was modified replacing the mechanical dermabrasion by erbium-YAG (ER:YAG) laser ablation and resulted in better prognosis in periungual vitiligo.

PURPOSE: In the present study, we are exploring the effect of the use of ER:YAG laser skin ablation ...

BACKGROUND: Only a few clinical trials have been performed on the treatment of generalized vitiligo in children. Recently, narrow-band UVB therapy has been reported to be an effective and safe therapeutic option in adult patients with vitiligo.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the efficacy and safety of UVB (311 nm) therapy in children with generalized vitiligo and evaluated the effect of the therapy on the quality of life in these children.

METHODS: In an open trial, 51 children (20 males, 31 ...

Evidence for the involvement of cellular immunity in the etiopathogenesis of the hypopigmentary disorder vitiligo is provided by rare cases of inflammatory vitiligo. Nonlesional, perilesional, and lesional skin biopsies from three inflammatory vitiligo patients were immunohistochemically analyzed. The composition of inflammatory infiltrates present in perilesional skin was analyzed by antibodies to T cells (CD2, CD3, CD4, and CD8), Langerhans cells (CD1a), and macrophages (CD36 and ...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of using a combination of fluticasone propionate (FP) and UV-A with that of either drug used alone in the long-term treatment of vitiligo.

DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled, left-right comparison study. Repigmentation was judged by a single dermatologist (L.N.-K.) and skin thickness was scored by a pathologist (using biopsy samples), a dermatologist (L.N.-K.) (visually), and patients (using a standard questionnaire).

SETTING: ...

Complement regulatory molecules, membrane cofactor protein (MCP), decay accelerating factor (DAF) and CD59, protect body cells from autologous complement. They have wide tissue distribution but nothing is known about the expression of these molecules on human melanocytes. Since melanocytes are lysed in the lesional skin of patients with a depigmentary disorder vitiligo, it is important to compare the protection offered by complement regulatory molecules to melanocytes present in normal ...

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is a pigmentary disorder of the skin characterized by the complete absence of melanocytes from the lesion. Complement-activating antimelanocyte antibodies have been implicated in vitiligo pathogenesis. As membrane regulators of complement activation, membrane cofactor protein, decay accelerating factor and CD59 protect cells from elimination by autologous complement, their absence or downregulation on melanocytes may be associated with autoantibody and ...

BACKGROUND: Several therapeutic options are available for the treatment of vitiligo. Concern exists that there is no uniform approach towards the management of vitiligo among Dutch dermatologists.

METHODS: A written survey concerning the management of vitiligo was sent to 332 dermatologists in The Netherlands.

RESULTS: The response rate was 86%. "Giving information and reassurance concerning the nature of disease" was regarded by most dermatologists (68%) as being the most important goal ...

In full-thickness skin wounds dermal regeneration usually fails, resulting in scar formation and wound contraction. We studied dermal regeneration by implantation of collagenous matrices in a human punch biopsy wound model. Matrices were made of native bovine collagen I fibres, and either hyaluronic acid, fibronectin, or elastin was added. Matrices were placed in 6-mm punch biopsy holes in seven patients (biopsies were used for the grafting of leg ulcers), and covered with a protective ...

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II associations with two subtypes of vitiligo: vitiligo vulgaris and halo nevi associated with vitiligo were investigated. In previous studies associations between vitiligo and HLA antigens have been reported but these two subtypes have never been taken into account. However from a clinical and histological point of view, a difference in (auto)-immune pathogenesis can be expected. This difference might be reflected in an association with different HLA ...

BACKGROUND: It has been generally believed that the four main causes of melasma are pregnancy, hormonal contraception, family history and sun exposure; however, there are few published comprehensive studies that confirm these assertions. The Pigmentary Disorders Academy - an international group of experts in pigmentary disorders - designed and conducted a global survey of women to investigate the effect of these factors on onset and chronicity of melasma and the course of the disease in ...