Effects of age of onset on disease characteristics in non‐segmental vitiligo

Abstract

In patients with vitiligo, the clinical and laboratory features of the disease may vary according to time of onset. This is addressed in the literature by only a few studies with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to determine the demographic and clinical features of patients with non-segmental vitiligo and to establish the association between vitiligo and autoimmune diseases with a focus on time of disease onset. A total of 224 vitiligo patients for whom complete medical records were available were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic data, scores on the Vitiligo Area Score Index (VASI), clinical features, vitiligo disease activity, repigmentation status, presence of any accompanying autoimmune disease, antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers, serum levels of glucose, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4) hormone, anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) were recorded. The prevalence of halo nevi was significantly higher (P < 0.001) among children than in other patient groups. The prevalence of leukotrichia was higher in adults with adult-onset disease than in either pediatric patients or adults with childhood-onset disease (P = 0.002). Both anti-TG and anti-TPO levels were significantly higher in adults with adult-onset disease than in pediatric patients and adult patients with childhood-onset disease. The prevalence of autoimmune disease was 22.2%. Anti-TG levels were significantly higher in patients with treatment-related repigmentation than in those without repigmentation. This study shows that clinical features and associations with autoimmune disease may vary according to the age of onset of vitiligo.

Gender Based Differences in Epidemiologic and Clinical Profile of Adult Vitiligo

“…This study is however, at variance with reports from some other studies. In some studies, the female gender is more affected [7,13,15,19] and in others, there is no gender difference in the occurrence of vitiligo [8,12].…”

“…This number is too few to conclude on gender and family history of vitiligo in this study. Solak et al following a study of vitiligo patients in Turkey fund more females to have a family history of vitiligo while Patil et al in India found more males to have a family history [8,12].…”

“…Vitiligo is mostly asymptomatic although, itching or burning is reported by a few patients [9]. The clinical characteristics of vitiligo including differences in different age groups is well documented [7,[10][11][12]. However, differences in clinical and epidemiologic characteristics between males and females is not widely documented [8,12].…”

“…The clinical characteristics of vitiligo including differences in different age groups is well documented [7,[10][11][12]. However, differences in clinical and epidemiologic characteristics between males and females is not widely documented [8,12]. The few studies particularly aimed at this gender based difference reveal a female preponderance of vitiligo in some [7,13,14] and no gender based difference in prevalence in others [8,12].…”

“…However, differences in clinical and epidemiologic characteristics between males and females is not widely documented [8,12]. The few studies particularly aimed at this gender based difference reveal a female preponderance of vitiligo in some [7,13,14] and no gender based difference in prevalence in others [8,12]. Also, differences in age at onset, family history of vitiligo, level of education, duration of disease and occupation between males and females who have vitiligo have been reported [8,15].…”