Further Link Sought Between Skin and Autoimmune Disorders

Patients with vitiligo found to have higher prevalence of diabetes and thyroid dysfunction…

Vitiligo is a loss of skin pigment usually around the mouth, eyes or joints that affects 1-2% of the general population. Previous studies have linked vitiligo with other autoimmune disorders such as thyroid dysfunction, but no studies have been done to link vitiligo to diabetes in Indian patients.

This case-control study included 150 new cases of vitiligo over a 1-year period. A total of 100 non-vitiligo cases were included as a control group. All vitiligo participants were divided into four groups: focal, segmental, acrofacial and generalized vitiligo. The participants were being tested for triiodothyronine, thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, anti-thyroid antibodies, anti-thyroglobulin and fasting plasma glucose.

The results were that hypothyroidism was seen in 30 vitiligo participants (20%) and two controls (P=0.004). Diabetes mellitus was present in 24 participants with vitiligo (16%) and five controls (P=0.006). Also, 7 participants had both hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus. A higher prevalence of hypothyroidism, diabetes or both was seen in generalized or acrofacial vitiligo (35.84%) compared to segmental vitiligo (20.45%).

In conclusion, the data established the positive association between vitiligo, autoimmune hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus. Early treatment in all detected cases will prevent long-term complications. More studies with a larger sample size still needs to be done.

Practice Pearls

• All patients with vitiligo should be screened for thyroid dysfunction and diabetes mellitus.
• Early treatment of vitiligo cases is recommended to prevent further complications.
• Vitiligo shares a common genetic link with these autoimmune disorders.

Gopal KV, Rao GR, Kumar YH. “Increased prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and diabetes mellitus in Indian vitiligo patients: A case-control study”. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2014;5(4):456-60. “https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4228640/”