title: The relationship between family medical history and childhood vitiligo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between a family history of vitiligo and other autoimmune/endocrine diseases and increased incidence of childhood vitiligo has been described; however, the influence of family history on the clinical characteristics of childhood vitiligo has rarely been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to examine the relationship between family history and the incidence, extent, and course of childhood vitiligo.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review and telephone interviews were performed for 137 pediatric patients with vitiligo and 140 control patients (patients with acne, warts, or molluscum contagiosum matched in age, sex, and ethnicity to the study group). Information about the age, sex, ethnicity, age of onset and diagnosis, site of onset, distribution, treatment, course of disease, and family history was obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with vitiligo and an extended family history of vitiligo were more likely to have an earlier age of onset of disease than those with a negative family history (odds ratio = 3.70, P = .024). There was no association between family history and site of onset, distribution, or course of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relatively small sample size, recall bias, disease misclassification, and confounding factors are potential limitations of this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Earlier onset of pediatric vitiligo is linked to a family history of vitiligo. Awareness of this association can allow for closer monitoring, earlier detection, and earlier initiation of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Urvi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pajvani
authors.forename: Naurin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: Ross M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Roopal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chamlin
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Paller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010375:Pedigree; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*