VITILIGO: MODERN IDEAS ABOUT THE ETIOLOGY, PATHOGENESIS AND APPROACHES TO THE TREATMENT OF THE DISEASE

Abstract

The scientific review presents modern views on the etiology, pathogenesis, approaches to the treatment of vitiligo as a multifactorial skin disease associated with depigmentation of its individual areas. The current opinions of specialists on the genetic, autoimmune, oxidative, neuroendocrine and melanocytorrhagic causes of the disease are given. The medical technologies used (PUVA therapy, UV therapy, laser therapy, etc.) and pharmacotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of vitiligo are considered and justified, taking into account their effectiveness and side effects. Highlighting and describing the characteristic features of the pharmacotherapy of vitiligo. it should be recognized as justified and expedient a multimodal therapeutic effect simultaneously on several links of the pathological process of the disease, which can be achieved by the development of a combined drug, for example, on the basis of an immunomodulator, antiphlogistics, an antioxidant and a source of melanin, suitable in terms of efficiency and safety. The detailed analysis of modern pharmacotherapy of vitiligo presented in the article showed that it seems expedient and relevant to develop a target drug with a multifunctional action that effectively affects several pathogenetic links of the disease simultaneously and involves the combination of pharmacologically active components, including melanin or its precursor. This article reveals both the multifactorial features of the occurrence of vitiligo and the methods of treating this disease, thus it may be of interest to specialists in various fields of medicine and pharmacy.