Vitiligo: Epidemiology and Clinical Pattern at King Khalid University Hospital

Abstract

The incidence of vitiligo at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was 2.5% for the period from [1985][1986][1987][1988][1989][1990]. The majority (96.1%) were Saudis. Approximately 64% were below the age of 30 years and the average age was 25.6 ± SD 13.7 years. Fifty-six percent of the patients were males and 43% were females. More than half of the patients had the lesions for a period between one and nine years and 17.17% had them for more than 15 years. Only 12% had a positive family history of vitiligo. The majority (54%) of the lesions were in exposed areas. The associated diseases with vitiligo are also reported. Vitiligo is a circumscribed, acquired, idiopathic depigmentation of skin and hair which is often familial and characterized microscopically by a total absence of melanocytes [1]. It affects both sexes with women being affected more, and the general incidence worldwide is about 1% [2]. The pathogenesis of vitiligo is unknown, but various hypotheses have been promulgated. Of these, the most accepted theories include genetic, autoimmune, neurogenic, and the melanocyte self-destruction hypothesis [3][4][5][6][7][8].Vitiligo is a social stigma, particularly in individuals with black skin, due to its cosmetic disfigurement. Despite that, no studies have been published on vitiligo in Saudi Arabia. This retrospective study reports on several cases of vitiligo from the dermatology clinic at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with regard to the incidence, clinical presentation, and the problems with management. Material and ManagementThe records of patients who had vitiligo and who were referred to the dermatology clinic from primary care clinics at KKUH over a five year period from December 1985 to December 1990 were reviewed for this study. Information regarding the clinical pattern of the disease, family history of the disease, the associated diseases, and the outcome of treatment were recorded using a SYSTAT program for data analysis and chi-square test was used for statistical analysis when needed. ResultsThe five year incidence of vitiligo at KKUH skin clinic was 2.5%. From a total of 203 patients with vitiligo who were studied, 114 (56.2%) were males and 89 (43.8%) were females. Of the Saudis, 134 (68.7%) were from the Central region (including Riyadh), 28 (14.4%) from the Northern, 22 (11.3%) from the Western, and 11 (5.6%) from the Southern regions. Of the non-Saudis, there were three Egyptians, two Sudanese, two Indians and one Jordanian. The majority (59%) were between the age group 10 to 29 years (Table 1) and the average age for the whole group was 28.7 ± 25.0 years while that for the male patients was 25.6 ± 13.7 years and that for the female patients was 21.9 ± 11.8 years. The age difference between males and females is statistically significant(P >0.01). More than half the patients had the lesions for a period between one and nine years, and 17.7% of the patients had their symptoms for more than 15 years (Table 2).Regarding the distribution o...

Effect of Topical Tacrolimus on Vitiligo in Children

“…This corroborates with the study done by Jarallah et al 8 In this study generalized, focal and segmental types of vitiligo were in 46.67%, 43.33%, and 10% cases. These findings correspond with the study done by Kanwar et al 6 where these were 54.5%, 40.9% and 4.5% respectively.…”

“…This is almost similar with the study conducted by Jarallah et al 8 where the researchers showed it 25.1%. The lesions were symmetrically distributed in most of the cases (73.33%) which is supported by the findings in the study done by Chowdhury et al 9 where they found it 60%.…”

Vitiligo: A comprehensive overview

“…16,17 The mean age of onset is earlier in those with a positive family history, 2,18 which ranges from 7.7% to more than 50%. 2,17,[19][20][21][22][23] Vitiligo is significantly more prevalent in young women ( # 30 years of age) than young men. 1,13,24,25 The peak in females occurs in the first decade of life.…”

Prevailing Misconceptions of Vitiligo among Saudi School Children

“…It is also known as "Leucoderma" the pathophysiology leading to the destruction of melanocytes in this disease have not yet been identified. (1) The incidence of vitiligo at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was 2.5% for the period from [1985][1986][1987][1988][1989][1990], the majority (96.1%) were Saudis, (2) the disease has a worldwide prevalence ranging from 0.5% to 2%. (3) It can affect any age of both sex.…”