Relevance of thyroiditis and of other autoimmune diseases in children with vitiligo

BACKGROUND: Studies that clearly define the possible association of childhood vitiligo with autoimmune and/or endocrine diseases are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To examine the presence of autoimmune disorders, in particular of thyroid disease, in paediatric patients with vitiligo and investigate the utility of such screening in these patients. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one paediatric patients (40 males, 81 females) with vitiligo were grouped in segmental and non-segmental vitiligo. All patients were screened for thyroid disease. RESULTS: 13 out of 121 patients had different degrees of thyroid parameter alterations. These patients were all affected by the non-segmental type while none of those with the segmental form presented thyroid alterations. CONCLUSION: In paediatric patients with non-segmental vitiligo, a significant incidence of thyroid dysfunction was found. Since vitiligo usually appears before the development of the thyroid disease, it may be useful to screen thyroid autoantibodies in all paediatric patients with non-segmental vitiligo who present symptoms related to thyroid disease.