New insights into leukotrichia in nonsegmental vitiligo: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Leukotrichia has been considered a predictor of poor outcome in vitiligo. However, studies considering the different clinical aspects of leukotrichia in vitiligo patients are few.

AIM: Our aim was to conduct a detailed clinical study to provide insights into the relevance and associations of leukotrichia in non-segmental vitiligo.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, vitiligo patients attending the dermatology outpatient clinic and phototherapy unit at Cairo University Hospital over a period of 6 months (April-September 2016) were included. Family history, clinical details, the Vitiligo Global Issues Consensus Conference classification, the Dermatology Life Quality Index, Vitiligo Area and Severity Index, Vitiligo Extent Score, Vitiligo Disease Activity Score and Vellus Score were determined and these measurements were correlated to leukotrichia.

RESULTS

Out of the 101 patients studied, leukotrichia was found in 47 (46.5%) patients, with vellus hair involved in 37 (78.7%), terminal hairs in 30 (63.8%) and both in 20 (42.5%) patients. Vellus hair involvement was significantly higher in generalized bilaterally symmetrical vitiligo than in acrofacial or unclassified vitiligo. The incidence of scalp leukotrichia also was higher in generalized symmetrical vitiligo than in acrofacial vitiligo. The Vellus Score showed significant associations with Vitiligo Area and Severity Index, Vitiligo Extent Score and the Dermatology Life Quality Index.

LIMITATIONS: This was a short-term study with a small sample size. Prognostic and therapeutic correlations were not studied; prospective longitudinal studies are needed for further evaluation.

CONCLUSION

Leukotrichia was found in almost half of the studied sample and its frequency varied among the different types of vitiligo.