title: Development and Validation of the Vitiligo Extent Score (VES): an International Collaborative Initiative.
abstract: The clinical assessment of vitiligo involves an estimation of the affected body surface area. The most commonly used method is the "palm of hand 1% rule" as integrated in the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index. However, this method can be challenging and time consuming. In this study, we introduce a global Vitiligo Extent Score (VES). In the first part of the study, this measurement instrument was developed and subsequently optimized during a pilot scoring session. In a subsequent stage, the inter- and intrarater reliability of the instrument were tested. Live scoring showed an excellent interrater reliability for the VES (intraclass correlation VES: 0.924 vs. Vitiligo Area Scoring Index: 0.846). Subsequent scoring on pictures was comparable with the live evaluation and demonstrated an excellent intrarater reliability. A high intraclass correlation for the VES (intraclass correlation VES: 0.923 vs. Vitiligo Area Scoring Index: 0.757) was also found in an additional subgroup of patients with extensive vitiligo. Moreover, user-friendliness and timing were scored very favorably. In conclusion, this measurement instrument allows us to monitor accurately and easily the affected body surface area in a standardized way. Moreover, our results provide evidence that the VES can be proposed as a promising tool to measure the vitiligo extent in clinical trials and in daily practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Nanja.vangeel@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Nanja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Geel
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Amsterdam and Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Janny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lommerts
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Amsterdam and Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bekkenk
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Amsterdam and Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolkerstorfer
authors.affiliation: VU University Medical Center, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cecilia A C
authors.initials: CAC
authors.lastname: Prinsen
authors.affiliation: Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Eleftheriadou
authors.affiliation: National Reference Center for rare skin diseases, Hôpital St-André, University Hospital Center of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taïeb
authors.affiliation: San Gallicano Dermatology Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picardo
authors.affiliation: EA EpiDermE (Epidémiologie en Dermatologie et Evaluation des Thérapeutiques), UPE-Université Paris-Est, Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ezzedine
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Reinhart
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speeckaert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult