Electron Microscopic Observation of Peripheral Nerves and Small Blood Vessels in Vitiligo Vulgaris

Abstract

Peripheral nerves and small blood vessels in vitiligo vulgaris were observed using electron microscope. Biopsy specimens were obtained from depigmented regions of twenty-one vitiligo patients and for comparative studies materials from inflammatory dermatosis, ie SLE, DLE, and fixed drug eruption were also used. Degeneration of Schwann cell cytoplasm, swelling of axons, extrusion of axons from Schwann cells, and thickening and multiple replication of basement membranes of them were remarkably noticed in the peripheral nerves of vitiligo vulgaris. In the small vessels of upper dermis, there were destruction of endothelial cells and thickening of their basement membranes. These findings were almost similar to the inflammatory diseases. Therefore, it seemed that disturbance of melanosome formation and decrease of melanocytes in vitiligo vulgaris came from degeneration of the peripheral nerves and the small blood vessels.