Prof. Julien Seneschal,
University of Bordeaux, Department of Dermatology, Saint-Andre Hospital, Bordeux, France

Vitiligo is frequently associated with autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyrooiditis and atopy.

Atopy is associated with elevated levels of serum IgE. The presence of high IgE levels in patients with vitiligo is negatively associated with autoimmune background.

The presence of high IgE levels in patients with vitiligo is associated with Koebner phenomenon type I (it develops at skin lesion sites).

High levels of IgE might be protective for the development of other chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorders in vitiligo.