Vitiligo antibodies are not directed to XXXX .

@entity1 @entity11442 @entity1694
BACKGROUND: @entity1 with @entity1694 have a markedly increased incidence of antibodies to melanocytes, referred to as @entity1694 antibodies. Antibodies to @entity11442 have been reported in some @entity1 with @entity1694 , suggesting that @entity1694 antibodies may be directed to this enzyme. However, there is considerable controversy as to the frequency with which these antibodies occur, and, hence, about their relevance to the pathogenesis of @entity1694 . The frequency with which antityrosinase antibodies occur in @entity1694 is critical to evaluate their potential role in the pathogenesis of this disease. OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of antibodies to @entity11442 in a large group of @entity1 with @entity1694 . DESIGN: We examined the incidence of antibodies to enzymatically and immunologically active @entity11442 in @entity1 with and without @entity1694 . SETTING: Outpatient clinic in referral center. @entity1 : The study was conducted on serum samples obtained from 54 @entity1 with active (n = 40) and inactive (n = 14) uncomplicated @entity1694 and from 52 age- and sex-matched individuals without @entity1694 . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Presence in the serum of antibodies to enzymatically and/or immunologically active @entity11442 . RESULTS: By immunoblotting, 20 @entity1 (50%) with active @entity1694 , 9 of those (64.3%) with inactive @entity1694 , and 29 control individuals (55.8%) had antibodies to an antigen that comigrated with @entity11442 . However, by immunoprecipitation DOPA stain and by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, none of the @entity1694 or control individuals had antibodies to @entity11442 , even though both assays easily detected control antityrosinase antibodies. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that while antibodies to an antigen(s) that comigrates with @entity11442 are common in @entity1 with or without @entity1694 , @entity1694 antibodies are not directed to @entity11442 .
