Abstract: Objective To study the role of beta endorphin (β-EP) in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Methods Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to measure the levels of β-EP in plasma from 40 patients and tissue fluid of lesional and non lesional skin from 33 patients with vitiligo. Results Plasma levels of β-EP were significantly higher in patients with generalized(11.74±3.47 pmol/L), local(8.31±2.57) and segmental(8.61±2.61) vitiligo than those in normal controls(6.69±1.46). Tissue fluid levels of β-EP were significantly higher in lesional skin (9.25±4.49 and 10.24±4.37) than those in non lesional skin (5.50±2.84 and 6.12±1.61) from patients with local and segmental vitiligo. Increased levels of β-EP were observed in tissue fluid from both lesional and non lesional skin in patients with generalized vitiligo, however, no significant difference of β-EP levels was found between the two kinds of skin tissue. Conclusion It is suggested that β-EP might play a role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo.

Key words: Vitiligo, Beta-endorphin