Increased retinal detachment risk observed among vitiligo patients: Study

Written By : Jacinthlyn Sylvia |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2024-02-24T01:30:59+05:30 | Updated On 24 Feb 2024 1:31 AM IST

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

Clinical and Experimental DermatologyvitiligoRetinal Detachment

Source : Clinical and Experimental Dermatology

Jacinthlyn Sylvia

Neuroscience Masters graduate

Jacinthlyn Sylvia, a Neuroscience Master's graduate from Chennai has worked extensively in deciphering the neurobiology of cognition and motor control in aging. She also has spread-out exposure to Neurosurgery from her Bachelor’s. She is currently involved in active Neuro-Oncology research. She is an upcoming neuroscientist with a fiery passion for writing. Her news cover at Medical Dialogues feature recent discoveries and updates from the healthcare and biomedical research fields. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751