This monograph is a comprehensive expose of the disorder vitiligo. The book introduces the topic with a presentation about its cultural effects in the Middle East where vitiligo is exceptionally disabling to the affected person. Nehru as Prime Minister of India stated that vitiligo was a major impediment to the successful development of India. The book includes sections on the definition of vitiligo based on a consensus of world experts on vitiligo. There is a complete description of its clinical manifestations including the extracutaneous sites by world experts. Differentiation of vitiligo from other forms of depigmentation associated with malignancies is included with sufficient photographs to document differences. A section will present the physiological changes associated with depigmentation - a little known phenomena. The complete histology, differential diagnosis and animal models are major sections. The animal models are important in formulating theories about the causes of vitiligo. Most clinicians will find this section very informative. The book finishes with a thorough treatise on the principles of therapy.

Table of Contents

Part I CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS 1.1 Clinical and histological features P C M van de Kerkhof, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands 1.2 Psoriatic arthropathy L van de Putte and Frank van der Hoogen, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Nijmegen 1.3 Psychosocial aspects J Savin, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Department of Dermatology, UK Part II Etiology and Pathogenesis 2.1 Epidemiology JJ Grop, Department of Dermatology, Hopital Saint Marguerite Marseille, France 2.2 Genetics H Traupe, Department of Dermatology, University of Munster 2.3 Pathogenesis of psoriasis PCM van de Kerkhof, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands 2.4 Immunopathogenesis S Kang, JJ Voorhees, Department of Dermatology , University of Michigan Medical School Part III Therapy 3.1 Vitamin D3 analogues K Kragballe, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Arhus, Denmark 3.2 Corticosteroids MHA Rustin, Department of Dermatology, Royal Free Hospital, London UK 3.3 Dithranol R Gerritsen, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands 3.4 Photo(chemo)therapy JT Krutmann and H Stege, Department of Dermatology, Heinrich-Heine-University of Dusseldorf 3.5 Methotrexate H Zachariae, Department of Dermatology, University of Arhus 3.6 Retinoids J Bonnekoh, H Gollnick, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Magdeburg,Germany 3.7 Cyclosporin and Immunotherapy MA de Rie, JD Bos, Department of Dermatology, University of Amsterdam 3.8 Combination Treatment PCM van de Kerkhof, and authors of chapters 3.1 to 3.7