Prevalence of thyroid function test abnormalities and thyroid autoantibodies in children with vitiligo

Abstract

Although the exact pathogenic processes involved in vitiligo are still unknown, its association with autoimmune disorders and endocrine dysfunction has been reported. One of its associations is with thyroid diseases. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibody abnormalities in children diagnosed with vitiligo and compare the results with the literature. The laboratory documents of thyroid function tests (FT3, FT4, and TSH) and thyroid autoantibodies (TgAb and TPOAb) belonging to the pediatric vitiligo patients were studied retrospectively. Thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibody abnormalities were detected in 20 (25.3%) of the pediatric vitiligo patients. Thirteen (16.4%) patients were evaluated as subclinical hypothyroidism, two (2.5%) were evaluated as hypothyroidism, and five (6.3%) were evaluated as euthyroidism. Thyroid autoantibodies were found to be positive in nine (11.3%) patients. Previously reported prevalence of thyroid disease in children with vitiligo ranged from 10.7 to 24.1%, and the prevalence of 25.3% determined in this study was compatible with the literature. Also, the high rate of subclinical hypothyroidism determined in these patients attracted attention to the probable development of overt hypothyroidism in a long term. Thus, our results suggest that thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibodies should be analyzed in children with vitiligo.

Current Management of Pediatric Vitiligo

“…Thyroid abnormalities can be noted in 10.7-26 % of pediatric vitiligo patients and can be associated with longstanding illness and large body surface area [16][17][18][19]. Vitamin D deficiency has been noted in children with vitiligo over the age of 3 years and has been associated with comorbid autoimmunity [20].…”

Frequency of thyroid dysfunctions among Nigerian patients with vitiligo

“…12, 23 Kumar et al had reported a frequency of 28% of thyroid dysfunction among vitiligo patients in their study with strong associations noted between vitiligo and hypothyroidism than hyperthyroidism. 12 Asfar et al had also reported a 16.4% frequency of subclinical hypothyroidism among vitiligo cohorts in a retrospective study.…”

“…12 Asfar et al had also reported a 16.4% frequency of subclinical hypothyroidism among vitiligo cohorts in a retrospective study. 23 There is evidence that vitiligo precedes thyroid dysfunction by 5-35 years in about 50% of vitiligo patients and subclinical hypothyroidism precedes overt hypothyroidism at a rate of 5-20% per year. [23][24][25][26][27] Thus, screening of thyroid dysfunction among vitiligo subjects have been strongly advised.…”

“…[23][24][25][26][27] Thus, screening of thyroid dysfunction among vitiligo subjects have been strongly advised. 23,24 …”

A Study to Determine Prevalance of Thyroid Disorders in Children and Adolescents with Vitiligo

“…It is more predominant in younger ages and approximately 50% of the cases have the onset of their disease prior to the age of 14 years. 5 Autoimmune diathesis has been demonstrated to play a key role in non-segmental vitiligo, associated with genetic factors. On the other hand, segmental vitiligo is explained by the neural theory, which proposes that some chemical released from the peripheral nerve endings causes a decreased production of melanin.…”