Background:Though it is well-known that vitiligo is associated with other autoimmune disorders, few Indian studies have focused on the relation between vitiligo, autoimmune thyroid dysfunction and diabetes mellitus.Materials and Methods:This case-control study included 150 new cases of vitiligo and 100 age and sex-matched controls. A complete history and thorough dermatological examination was done. Serum samples from both patients and controls were collected and assayed for triiodothyronine, thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, anti-thyroid antibodies—anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin and fasting plasma glucose.Results:Thyroid hormonal profile revealed autoimmune thyroid dysfunction manifesting as hypothyroidism in 30 (20%) vitiligo patients and two controls (2%). Diabetes mellitus was present in 24 (16%) vitiligo patients and five controls. Seven (4.7%) patients had both hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus.Conclusion:There is a clear association between vitiligo, autoimmune hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus. It would be very useful to screen for thyroid dysfunction and diabetes mellitus in all patients with vitiligo.

No abstract

Background and objectives: Inflammatory dermatoses of the superficial cutaneous reactive unit are a common and complex variety of clinical conditions. This study was undertaken to perform a detailed morphological evaluation of lesions classified in this category, and to correlate the clinical details to arrive at the most appropriate diagnosis. Methodology: Skin biopsies of clinically diagnosed/suspected cases of inflammatory dermatoses were processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), followed by microscopic examination. Results: A total of 160 skin biopsies of superficial inflammatory dermatoses were studied. Lesions were categorized into papular/nonvesiculobullous (non-VB) (142 cases/88.75%) and VB (18 cases/11.25%) lesions. Papular lesions were frequent in males, with a peak incidence in the fourth decade. Patients presented mostly with pigmented plaques and papules over the extremities. Papular lesions were categorized based on epidermal changes: 8 cases without epidermal changes and 134 with epidermal changes. Lesions with epidermal changes were further categorized into interface dermatitis (60 cases), psoriasiform dermatitis (58 cases), and spongiotic dermatitis (16 cases). Commonly reported lesions were lichen planus (LP) with its variants followed by psoriasis vulgaris. VB lesions were common in the third and fourth decades, predominantly in females. These patients presented mostly with generalized vesicles. Common lesions reported were erythema multiforme (seven cases) and pemphigus vulgaris (six cases). Of the 160 cases, clinicopathological concordance was seen in 156 cases (97.5%) and discordance in 4 cases (2.5%). Interpretation and conclusion: The incidence of superficial inflammatory dermatoses in our study was comparable with those reported in other studies. Despite advances in molecular techniques, morphology remains the gold standard for the diagnosis and prognosis of many inflammatory dermatoses. This study emphasizes the importance and utility of a systematic approach to superficial inflammatory dermatoses which is relevant from the treatment perspective.