Objective To determine the serum levels of macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in patients with vitiligo,and to investigate their clinical significance.Methods The serum concentrations of MIF and TNF-α were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay respectively in 66 patients with vitiligo and 30 healthy controls.Results The patients with vitiligo vulgaris showed a significant higher serum level of MIF and TNF-α compared with the healthy controls ((9.56 ± 1.65) vs.(5.18 ± 0.81 ) μg/L,(2.38 ± 0.37) vs.(1.78 ± 0.21 ) μg/L,both P ＜ 0.01 ).There was a positive correlation between the serum level of MIF and TNF-α (r =0.89,P ＜ 0.05).No statistical difference was observed in the serum levels of MIF or TNF-α between the healthy controls and patients with segmental vitiligo (both P ＞ 0.05).The serum level of MIF was significantly higher in patients with progressive vitiligo than in those with stable vitiligo (P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions MIF and TNF-α might play a certain role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo,and MIF may be related to the activity of vitiligo vulgaris.