Vitiligo and thyroid dysfunction in children and adolescents.

The link between vitiligo and thyroid disease has been proved in adult patients. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in children and adolescents with vitiligo and to identify any predisposing factors of this association. This retrospective study included 75 children and adolescents with vitiligo: 47 (62.66%) females and 28 (37.33%) males. Physical examination, thyroid ultrasonography and laboratory parameters of thyroid disease were performed in all study subjects. Various degrees of thyroid parameter alterations were found in 19 (25.33%) of 75 patients. Hashimoto's thyroiditis associated with non-segmental vitiligo was present in 11 (14.66%) patients. The most common site of vitiligo onset in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis were upper limbs, which was significantly more frequent compared with patients without Hashimoto's thyroiditis (χ(2); P<0.05). Since vitiligo usually appears before the development of thyroid disease, it may be useful to screen the children and adolescents with vitiligo for thyroid autoantibodies.