Autoimmune mechanisms play an important role in vitiligo pathogenesis, as evidenced, in particular, by a more frequent association of the disease with other autoimmune disorders than in the general population. However, the prevalence of autoimmune skin diseases in patients with vitiligo has been poorly studied.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association of vitiligo with other autoimmune skin disorders in a cohort of patients managed at MRCDC in 2019-2021.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The main group included 137 patients with vitiligo aged from 3 years to 71 years (mean age 28.7 years). The control group included 1.773.096 patients with various conditions (excluding patients with vitiligo).

RESULTS

In the group of vitiligo patients, the association of the disease with alopecia areata was detected in 3 (2.19%) cases, psoriasis in 2 (1.46%) cases, with localized scleroderma in 2 (1.46%) cases, genital sclerotic and atrophic lichen in 1 (0.73%) case each. No associations of vitiligo with other autoimmune skin disorders were found. The prevalence of alopecia areata and localized scleroderma in the group of vitiligo patients was 6.9-fold (OR 6.93, 95% CI 2.21—21.78; p=0.01) and 6.5-fold (OR 6.47, 95% CI 1.60—26.15; p=0.04) higher than in the control group respectively. No significant differences were found in the prevalence of psoriasis between patient groups.

CONCLUSION

The increased association of vitiligo with alopecia areata and localized scleroderma may indicate common pathogenetic links between these diseases, suggesting they are comorbidities.