Serum BAFF and peripheral blood CD19^+ B-lymphocytes in generalized vitiligo and relation to disease activity

Background the currently available evidence supports an autoimmune etiology for generalized vitiligo. b-lymphocytes and b-lymphocyte-activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family (baff) are known to play a role not only in the pathogenesis but also in the progression of autoimmune diseases. objective to determine serum baff and peripheral blood cd19^+ b-cells in generalized vitiligo and to examine their association with disease severity, activity, duration, and patients’ sex and age. patients and methods a total of 50 generalized vitiligo patients and 38 healthy control participants were included in the study. disease severity and activity were assessed using the vitiligo area severity index and vitiligo disease activity (vida) scores, respectively. serum baff was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique, and flow cytometry was used to determine cd19^+ b-cell counts. results serum baff (p<0.001) and peripheral blood cd19^+ b-cells (p<0.001) were significantly higher in vitiligo patients than in controls. a significant direct correlation was detected in patients between serum baff and cd19^+ b-lymphocytes (p= 0.04), and between serum baff and vida (p<0.001). serum baff was also significantly higher in patients with disease activity during the 3 months preceding the enrollment in the study (vida 3 and 4) and in female patients (p = 0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). conclusion elevated baff and its relation to disease activity, together with the elevated cd19^+ b-cells, in generalized vitiligo patients suggests a role for baff and b-cells in the pathogenesis of the disease. baff may be a possible target for the vitiligo therapy.