Relevance of thyroiditis and of other autoimmune diseases in children with vitiligo.
BACKGROUND
Studies that clearly define the possible association of childhood vitiligo with autoimmune and/or endocrine diseases are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the presence of autoimmune disorders, in particular of thyroid disease, in paediatric patients with vitiligo and investigate the utility of such screening in these patients.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-one paediatric patients (40 males, 81 females) with vitiligo were grouped in segmental and non-segmental vitiligo. All patients were screened for thyroid disease.


RESULTS
13 out of 121 patients had different degrees of thyroid parameter alterations. These patients were all affected by the non-segmental type while none of those with the segmental form presented thyroid alterations.


CONCLUSIONS
In paediatric patients with non-segmental vitiligo, a significant incidence of thyroid dysfunction was found. Since vitiligo usually appears before the development of the thyroid disease, it may be useful to screen thyroid autoantibodies in all paediatric patients with non-segmental vitiligo who present symptoms related to thyroid disease.
Iacovelli
Paolo
P
San Gallicano Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. iacovelli@ifo.it
Sinagra
Jolinda L M
JL
Vidolin
Andrea Paro
AP
Marenda
Samantha
S
Capitanio
Bruno
B
Leone
Giovanni
G
Picardo
Mauro
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*