Segmental vitiligo: clinical findings in 208 patients.

BACKGROUND

Vitiligo affects approximately 1% of the general population without racial, sexual, or regional differences. However, studies of segmental vitiligo have been few and the number of patients limited.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical features of patients with segmental vitiligo.

METHODS

We evaluated sex, age at onset, age at initial visit, character of the initial lesion, status of progression, precipitating factors, involved sites, dermatomal distribution, family history, Koebner phenomenon, presence of poliosis, dominant hand, and associated diseases.

RESULTS

Segmental vitiligo had an early onset, rapid progression, no specific precipitating factors, and linear spreading in the affected dermatomal area. The most commonly involved dermatome was the trigeminal. Only a few patients had an associated autoimmune disease.

CONCLUSION

The clinical features of segmental vitiligo differ from those of nonsegmental vitiligo; pathogenesis may also differ.