Profile of vitiligo among the attendants of phototherapy units in two university hospitals in Assiut, Upper Egypt

Background: Vitiligo is a common, acquired, idiopathic skin disorder characterized by one or more patches of depigmented skin. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical and epidemiological profile of two phototherapy unit attendants in two university hospitals in Assiut governorate (Upper Egypt). Patients and methods: The clinical presentation of vitiligo was examined in patients attending Assiut and Al-Azhar University hospitals. Demographic data of all patients were obtained. History taking and clinical examination were performed. Results: A total of 283 patients were recruited: 90 were male (31.8%) and 193 were female (68.2%). Their mean age ± SD was 27.71 ±15.84 years. Most of the vitiligo patients were adult females, with a positive family history in 22.6% of them. The most common presentation was vitiligo vulgaris; there was no patient with isolated mucosal affection. The most common presentation in children was focal, that in adolescents was acrofacial, and in adults was segmental. Leukotrichia was found in 42%, Koebner phenomenon in 25%, halo nevus in 6%, associated cutaneous disease in 5%, and associated systemic disorder in 22%. Conclusion: From this study a hypothesis was generated outlining a profile for vitiligo patients in Assiut. We concluded that vitiligo most commonly occurs in the first two decades of life and more commonly in the female population. Vitiligo vulgaris was the most common clinical type observed. The minority had a positive family history, whereas the majority had progressive course of the disease. Leukotrichia was the most commonly associated abnormality. Vitiligo is less often associated with systemic diseases.