Clinical patterns of vitiligo and its associated co morbidities: A prospective controlled cross-sectional study in South India

Abstract

Aim:The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical patterns and associations of vitiligo, audiometric functions, and ocular involvement and to correlate the morphology, clinical behaviour and comorbidities associated with vitiligo.Settings and Design:For this prospective and cross-sectional study 80 self-reporting patients in the age group 7-75 years with vitiligo attending the outpatient department of Manipal hospital during the period August 2008 to February 2010 were selected and the data was analysed.Materials and Methods:The patients were subjected to detailed history, clinical examination and investigations [complete blood count (CBC), absolute eosinophil count (AEC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), vitamin B12 estimation, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and post prandial blood sugar (PPBS),antibody titre estimations that is antithyroid peroxidase (ATPA), antithyroglobulin (ATA), antinuclear antibodies (ANA),urine analysis], audiometric evaluation and ophthalmic examination.Statistical Analysis Used:The Fisher exact test has been used to find the significance of study parameters on categorical scale between two or more groups.Results:In the present series of 80 cases, 41 (51.25%) were males and 39 (48.75%) were females. The male to female ratio was 1.05:1. In our study 20% cases gave definite family history of vitiligo and patients in the age group of 20 - 30 years were the most commonly affected. Generalized vitiligo (31.3%) was the most common type followed by segmental (30%), focal (18.8%), acrofacial (8.8%), and mucosal vitiligo (11.3%). In the present study there was a high incidence of autoantibodies (22.5%), vitamin B12 deficiency (30%), hypothyroidism (11.3%), elevated absolute eosinophil count (16.3%), hypoacusis (10%) and retinal changes (8.8%). This suggests multisystem autoimmunity in vitiligo.

Circulating Autoantibodies and Autoimmune Comorbidities in Vitiligo Patients: A Multicenter Italian Study

“…Circulating ANAs were observed in the literature in rates ranging from 2.5 to 33.3% (table 4) [9,12,18,21,23,24,25,26,27,28]. We detected a rate of ANA positivity of 16.8%, which is consistent with previous reports.…”

“…From our review of the literature, the presence of different circulating autoantibodies in vitiligo patients varied from 2 to 70% [7,9,10,20,21]; these data are also roughly in agreement with our observations.…”

Association of C-469T of Interleukin 13 Gene Polymorphism with Vitiligo Development in Thi Qar Province/South of Iraq

“…Also [23] found 30% of cases had positive family history. Less than that [24] reported 20% of cases had family history.…”

Validation of VitBOD, a simple burden of disease instrument for vitiligo

“…Although the statistics on vitiligo vary, it is generally considered to affect at least 1-2% of the world's population (2). While it is not considered a life threatening condition and does not cause physical impairment, vitiligo can have a substantial negative impact on patients' social and psychological wellbeing, especially in darker -skinned individuals (3)(4)(5).…”