VITILIGO
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At the Derm Update meeting in Montreal last weekend CMV / Vitiligo was
discussed several times, and it is not known whether CMV is playing a role in
vitiligo and alopecia areata, or is just an "innocent bystander", developing
in tissue which is infiltrated with T-cells rather than CAUSING the
infiltration. CMV likes to live in proliferating T-cells, and this is one
reason why it may be an incidental finding and not the pathogen in vitiligo
and alopecia areata. I expect we'll have an answer in a year or two.

I have several patients with vitiligo and alopecia areata trying 2.5%
cytovene in Moisturel cream and / or famcyclovir 250 mg bid - too early to
tell if this will help the skin conditions, and no way to know if this would
be a cure or just a maintenance treatment if it works.

 
The CMV / vitiligo reference is:

Dr. Pearl Grimes [a respected vitiligo researcher] in a talk to the American
Dermatological Association [not published yet] - CMV in 12 of 13 biopsy
specimens demonstrated on PCR. 

Cited in letter to JAMA about CMV / AA [9 of 10 cases]:
JAMA 273:1419, 1995.

KC Smith MD FRCPC
Niagara Falls Ontario
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I have a patient who is interested in CO2 laser skin resurfacing for
periocular rhytides but she has patches of vitiligo that extend into the
areas to be resurfaced. Does anyone have any information on or experience
with the effects of laser on vitiligo?  Possibilities for making it worse or
better?
Thanks,
John Jennings, MD
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I've seen vitiligo come up in skin that's been scratched or cut, so I
wouldn't be a bit surprised if it came up after CO2 laser.

KC Smith MD FRCPC
Niagara Falls Ontario
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				4.24.96