Feature of Mononuclear Hugging in Vitiligo

Histomorphological study on 48 cases of vitiligo was carried out. The main finding in our serial section study was the demonstration of mononuclear hugging at the borders of the progressive vitiliginous macules with normally pigmented skin. The mononuclear cells were almost exclusively small lymphocytes. They were found at the dermoepidermal junction and also intra-epiderrnally. A selective abscence of melanocytes and melanin in the basal layer of the epidermis was the striking feature at the site of mononuclear hugging. That these mononuclear cells are possibly responsible for selective destruction of melanocytes (auto-destruction) and that vitiligo is perhaps slow reacting auto-immurie disorder of delayed hypersensitivity -type, have been suggested on histological grounds.