RESUMO
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the amount of serum antibodies to melanocyte antigens could predict clinical activity or disease progression in patients with vitiligo. A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay was developed to semiquantitate serum antibodies to a human melanocyte extract and was used in 127 patients, 93 of whom showed clinical progression of the disease, while the remaining 34 were quiescent. Results showed different values for clinical sensitivity and specificity depending on the cutoff level for decision, but the overall performance of the test was adequate and supported statistical significance to predict clinical activity/progression or quietness of the disease process. The test might prove useful in deciding the indication and aggressiveness of immunosuppressive therapy in patients with vitiligo. Previous findings suggest that melanocyte-specific antibodies might play a pathogenetic role in the depletion of melanocytes, which characterizes this disorder, and that this depletion might be due to apoptosis following antibody internalization.