New
It's not uncommon for people to suffer from several illnesses at once, or comorbidities.
Comorbidities usually occur because they have the same root cause, and may share the same risk factors. They are very common: nearly half of older Americans suffer from three or more chronic conditions at the same time.
Results of a 10-year cross-sectional study of an urban US population published today by the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology affirmed new and known associations between vitiligo and certain autoimmune diseases.
Vitiligo patients have a statistically significant higher prevalence of the following comorbidities:
- hypothyroidism
- multiple sclerosis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
- seronegative arthritis
- pernicious anemia
- myasthenia gravis
- inflammatory bowel disease
- lymphoma, and
- systemic lupus erythematosus.
These data also confirmed known associated comorbidities:
- type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- alopecia areata
- psoriasis
- chronic urticaria
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- linear morphea
- ulcerative colitis
- celiac disease
- Raynaud’s disease
- sarcoid
- Crohn’s disease
- dermatitis herpetiformis
- Addison’s disease, and
- Sjögren syndrome.
Rates of comorbid autoimmune diseases vary by race and sex. Black patients had the highest rate (16.4%), followed by:
- white (16.3%),
- Hispanic (15.7%), and
- Asian patients (7.9%-8.4%).
They are more prevalent in women (17.7%) compared with men (6.7%).
Why is it important?
Vitiligo is not a cosmetic disorder but a systemic disease. Being aware of comorbid conditions that may occur along with vitiligo is important for patients and their caretakers. Most patients with vitiligo will not develop autoimmune disease, but a significant minority will develop hypothyroidism.
If you live with multiple disorders, it is important that your doctor is aware of all drugs and medications you are taking, to ensure they don't interfere with each other.
FAQOther Questions
- Vitiligo and hearing loss: any connection?
In short, NO. Recent research shows no relationship between a degree of skin depigmentation and hearing loss severity in vitiligo patients. The results of this study showed tha...
- I have a new job - should I tell colleagues about my vitiligo?
If you are starting a new job and you are concerned about stares and questions about your skin, try a proactive approach. When the time is right and you are feeling comfortable,...
- How to get insurance coverage for vitiligo treatments?
Most of health insurance companies will initially reject claims for vitiligo doctor visits or phototherapy treatments but with enough efforts you can have a substantial part of ...
Though it is not always easy to treat vitiligo, there is much to be gained by clearly understanding the diagnosis, the future implications, treatment options and their outcomes.
Many people deal with vitiligo while remaining in the public eye, maintaining a positive outlook, and having a successful career.
Copyright (C) Bodolóczki JúliaBy taking a little time to fill in the anonymous questionnaire, you can help researchers better understand and fight vitiligo.