VITILIGO AND OTHER DISEASES - COEXISTENCE OR TRUE ASSOCIATION - HAMBURG STUDY ON 321 PATIENTS

In the past, several authors described an association of vitiligo with autoimmune disorders and the presence of different tissue autoantibod ies. A review of the literature showed large differences in the result s. Therefore, 321 patients with vitiligo (male/female ratio 114/207) w ere examined to see whether the frequencies of associated diseases and phenomena (i.e. Koebner phenomenon, canities praecox, halo nevi, poli osis circumscripta), the number of pigmented lesions and the presence of autoantibodies are of significance in order to support (a) a subent ity of childhood vitiligo and (b) whether there is a true predispositi on or association of autoimmune or other diseases in this group of pat ients. The data confirm earlier results of a prevalence of thyroid dis ease and the presence of thyroid antibodies, whereas other diseases ar e a random event. 6.2% of the patients had congenital nevi compared wi th 2.8% in a normal healthy population. Based on the results of this s tudy and the significant higher risk for development of melanomas in t his patient group, an annual checkup is recommended.