title: Characteristics of genetic epidemiology and genetic models for vitiligo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitiligo occurs with a frequency of 0.1% to 2% in various populations and is classified into several subtypes by its clinical presentation. Although genetic factors are thought to be involved in the cause of vitiligo, the genetic models for different phenotypes of vitiligo are unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to explore potential genetic models for different phenotypes of vitiligo and analyze genetic epidemiologic characteristics of vitiligo in a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information from 2247 patients and members in their families was collected using a uniform questionnaire. Patients' clinical characteristics and their family history were analyzed using software. A complex segregation analysis was conducted to propose potential genetic models for vitiligo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Different subtypes of vitiligo had different ages of disease onset. In relatives of patients with vitiligo, the risk of developing vitiligo increased with increasing relatedness to the patients with vitiligo. A polygenic additive model was the best model for focal vitiligo, vitiligo vulgaris, acrofacial vitiligo, and segmental vitiligo with approximately 50% heritability in each. For universal vitiligo, the best model was an environmental model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that different phenotypes of vitiligo had different pathogeneses and genetic backgrounds. Onset of vitiligo is possibly affected by both genetic backgrounds and common environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China. ayzxj@mail.hf.ah.cn
authors.forename: Xue-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiang-Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jin-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Quan-Geng
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Hong-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jin-Xian
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hong-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004777:Environment; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D020412:Multifactorial Inheritance; D010641:Phenotype; D012306:Risk; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*