Clinical features of vitiligo linked to age of disease onset

(HealthDay)—The clinical features of vitiligo are associated with age of disease onset, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in the International Journal of Dermatology.

Berna Solak, M.D., from Sakarya University in Turkey, and colleagues examined the demographic and clinical features of patients with non-segmental vitiligo and the correlation between vitiligo and autoimmune diseases. Data were retrospectively evaluated for 224 vitiligo patients with complete medical records.

The researchers found that children had significantly higher prevalence of halo nevi than among other patient groups. Adults with adult-onset disease had higher prevalence of leukotrichia than pediatric patients or adults with childhood-onset disease. Adults with adult-onset disease had significantly higher levels of anti-thyroglobulin (TG) and anti-thyroid peroxidase than pediatric patients and adults with childhood-onset disease. Autoimmune disease prevalence was 22.2 percent. Patients with treatment-related regimentation had significantly higher anti-TG levels than those without repigmentation.

"This study shows that clinical features and associations with autoimmune disease may vary according to the age of onset of vitiligo," the authors write.