The Analysis of Genetics and Associated Autoimmune Diseases in Chinese Vitiligo Patients

    October 2008 in “ Archives of dermatological research ”
    Zheng Zhang, Sheng Xin Xu, Fengyu Zhang, Yin Xian, Sen Yang, Feng Xiao, Weidong Du, Jian Feng Wang, Yong Mei Lv, Hua Tang, Xue Jun Zhang
    TLDR Generalized vitiligo in Chinese patients is linked to other autoimmune diseases, especially in familial cases.
    The study analyzed 6,516 Chinese vitiligo patients and found that familial vitiligo probands had an earlier onset and longer disease duration compared to sporadic cases. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic urticaria, alopecia areata, and psoriasis among generalized vitiligo probands and their first-degree relatives. Familial generalized vitiligo probands also showed higher prevalences of diabetes mellitus and asthma. These results suggested that generalized vitiligo might share common genetic links with other autoimmune diseases, with a stronger genetic component in familial cases.
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