Increased retinal detachment risk observed among vitiligo patients: Study

Vitiligo is a condition characterized by the loss of skin pigment and has long been known to be associated majorly with various ocular abnormalities. A recent study from Taiwan explored a concerning association between vitiligo and retinal detachment (RD). The key findings of this studywere published in the journal of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology.

The study was conducted as a nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan that analyzed data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database from 2007 to 2018. This study identified a cohort of 21,132 vitiligo patients and matched them in a 1:4 ratio with non-vitiligo patients based on age, sex and propensity score of comorbidities.

The findings of the study were;

The vitiligo cohort expressed a significantly higher rate of retinal detachment when compared to the non-vitiligo cohort. After adjusting for various factors, including age, sex and comorbidities, the research found that vitiligo patients underwent a 1.44-fold increased risk of retinal detachment.

Also, the vitiligo patients who required treatments such as phototherapy, systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppressants showed an even greater risk, with a marked 1.57-fold increase in retinal detachment risk.

This study emphasized the importance of these findings which highlights the need for increased vigilance among healthcare professionals regarding the ocular health of vitiligo patients. It's crucial that clinicians consider the potential risk of retinal detachment in these patients who undergo specific treatments.

With vitiligo affecting approximately 1% of the global population, the clear understanding of its potential systemic associations is critical for comprehensive patient care. Thereby, the comprehensive analysis of study that was over a 10-year follow-up period, further solidifies the observed association between vitiligo and retinal detachment.

Reference:

Chen, C.-L., Wu, C.-Y., Chen, Y.-L., Chen, C.-C., Chang, Y.-T., & Wu, C.-Y. (2024). Association between vitiligo and risk of retinal detachment: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan. In Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. Oxford University Press (OUP). https://doi.org/10.1093/ced/llae035