Non-segmental vitiligo closely related to ocular problems: Study

Egypt: Ocular alterations are more likely to occur in those with non-segmental vitiligo states a study published in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology.

About 1% of people worldwide suffer from vitiligo, which is characterized by white lesions on the skin. About 90% of vitiligo instances are nonsegmental, which typically appears gradually throughout adulthood. Melanocytes are damaged in vitiligo. Anywhere in the body, melanocytes are susceptible to destruction, which compromises the functionality of the organs they are present. Along with physiological and anatomical similarities, melanocytes in the uveal tract and the epidermis retain an embryological basis.

"Our study emphasizes the significance of vitiligo being a systemic disorder that can impact ocular melanocytes in the retinal pigment epithelium and uveal tract in addition to the skin", states the authors.

In the study, the researchers aimed to identify ocular alterations in people with non-segmental vitiligo.

The findings of the research were in line with earlier studies revealing that people with vitiligo are more likely to experience ocular abnormalities, uveitis, and subclinical inflammatory fundus depigmentation.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a case-control study, in which 40 non-segmental vitiligo patients from the outpatient clinics of the hospitals affiliated with Al-Azhar University in Egypt and 40 healthy controls were enrolled. Males made up 52.5% of the sick group and 40% of the control group, both of which had study participants between the ages of 18 and 40. 55% of the patients in the group exhibited acro-facial lesions, while 45% had widespread lesions. Among study participants, the mean duration of the idiopathic systemic autoimmune illness was 3.71 years, ranging from 1 to 13 years. The investigation included ophthalmic and dermatological tests.

Key findings of the study:

• 57.5% of vitiligo patients had major abnormalities found during slit lamp fundus investigations, compared to 6.3% of the controls. There were several abnormalities, including raised disc, tigroid fundus, conjunctival nevus, iris nevus, and iris depigmentation.
• The greatest value was found in the control group, with differences also seen in central macular thickness as determined by optical coherence tomography. In the control group, the value for error of refraction was highest.

"We must continue our research to determine the potential dangers and ideal treatment strategies for vitiligo and other dermatological conditions", added the authors.

The authors concluded that despite there being no appreciable difference in visual acuity, patients with non-segmental vitiligo had a much higher prevalence of ocular changes than controls.

REFERENCE

Ezzeldine SM, Hasan MS, Abdelmaksoud GI, Ibrahim EN, Rageh MA. Ocular changes of non-segmental vitiligo: A case-control study. Australas J Dermatol. 2022 Aug 15. doi: 10.1111/ajd.13909. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35971248.