PROFILE AND CLINICAL CHARACTERICS OF ADULT VITILIGO PATIENTS AT THE LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL

PROFILE AND CLINICAL CHATACTERISTICS OF ADULT VITILIGO

Abstract

Background: Vitiligo is one of the common acquired pigmentary disorders. However, studies on its clinical profile are few. The aim of this study was to document the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of adult vitiligo patients attended to at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

Methodology: This was cross-sectional study of 29 newly diagnosed adult vitiligo patients attended to from February 2018 to January 2019 at the outpatient skin clinic of LASUTH. The patients were clinically examined, thyroid autoimmune screening, clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were documented using a questionnaire designed for the study. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive characteristics are presented as percentages, median and interquartile range. Level of significance was set as p <0.05 for all statistical tests.

Results: The prevalence of vitiligo was 6.7% (males 48.3% and females 51.7%, the M: F was 1:1). The mean age of the vitiligo patients at diagnosis was 37.2±21.3 years. Vitiligo was more common in the head and neck area followed by the upper limbs. No family history of vitiligo was recorded in 86.2%, vitiligo was asymptomatic in 79.3% and the cause of vitiligo was not known by 79.3%. Vitiligo was located in visible parts of the body in 96.6%, severity of vitiligo was less than 9% in 82.8% and the type of vitiligo was mostly non-segmental and this was vulgaris in 59.1%. Only one patient had autoimmune thyroid disease.

Conclusion: Vitiligo occurs equally in males and females, is located mostly on the head and neck. Non-segmental vitiligo especially vulgaris is the most prevalent type.