title: Clinical patterns of vitiligo and its associated co morbidities: A prospective controlled cross-sectional study in South India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical patterns and associations of vitiligo, audiometric functions, and ocular involvement and to correlate the morphology, clinical behaviour and comorbidities associated with vitiligo.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this prospective and cross-sectional study 80 self-reporting patients in the age group 7-75 years with vitiligo attending the outpatient department of Manipal hospital during the period August 2008 to February 2010 were selected and the data was analysed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were subjected to detailed history, clinical examination and investigations [complete blood count (CBC), absolute eosinophil count (AEC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), vitamin B12 estimation, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and post prandial blood sugar (PPBS),antibody titre estimations that is antithyroid peroxidase (ATPA), antithyroglobulin (ATA), antinuclear antibodies (ANA),urine analysis], audiometric evaluation and ophthalmic examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Fisher exact test has been used to find the significance of study parameters on categorical scale between two or more groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present series of 80 cases, 41 (51.25%) were males and 39 (48.75%) were females. The male to female ratio was 1.05:1. In our study 20% cases gave definite family history of vitiligo and patients in the age group of 20 - 30 years were the most commonly affected. Generalized vitiligo (31.3%) was the most common type followed by segmental (30%), focal (18.8%), acrofacial (8.8%), and mucosal vitiligo (11.3%). In the present study there was a high incidence of autoantibodies (22.5%), vitamin B12 deficiency (30%), hypothyroidism (11.3%), elevated absolute eosinophil count (16.3%), hypoacusis (10%) and retinal changes (8.8%). This suggests multisystem autoimmunity in vitiligo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Old Airport Road, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: D S Krupa
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shashikala
authors.forename: Rama
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madala
keywords: Deafness; retinal changes; thyroid disease; vitamin B12 deficiency; vitiligo