Epidemiological study of vitiligo on referred patients from Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran, 2009-2012

Introduction: Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease destroying the pigments of the skin, and subsequently causing whiteness on the body skin. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of vitiligo from patients referred to Ahvaz Imam Khomeini Hospital, Iran, 2009-2012.

Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed characterize on 600 patients with vitiligo referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz in January 2009 to December 2012 using sequential sampling. Data were collected using a data collection form, Included parameters of age, sex, time of onset, family history, site of lesion, type of involvement and associated diseases. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test and SPSS software.

Results: The mean age was 26.4±11.2 years And the majority were women. The average age of onset was 27.6 years. Mean duration of disease was 11.7 years in men and women. Obtained results showed that 34.1% of the patients had a positive family history. The hands, neck and face were the most common involved sites. The generalized type was the most common form of vitiligo. Associated disorder with vitiligo were documented in order for Leukotrichia, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism and alopecia areata.

Conclusion: This study indicated that the high percentage of vitiligo occurred in young ages therefore, it is expected that better case finding and screening methods were used to identify people with this disease so that, it can be quicker to recognize this genetic and autoimmune disease, and finally treated with better quality.