[Autoantibodies in children with vitiligo].

Introduction: Vitiligo is an acquired, sometimes familial skin depigmentation disorder. In about half of patients it occurs before the age of twenty. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and significance of autoantibodies (AT) and associated autoimmune and endocrine diseases in children with vitiligo, in relation to adults with vitiligo and children without vitiligo.

Material And Methods: The research was conducted in fifty children with clinically diagnosed vitiligo from 2 to 16 years of age. Children were compared with control groups of children with other skin diseases (aged from 2 to 16) and with adults with vitiligo. Each group comprised 30 patients. A detailed history was obtained and physical examination was performed in each patient to determine presence of autoimmune and endocrine diseases in patients with family history of vitiligo. Routine blood examination, routine urinalysis and stool were performed in all patients. We evaluated the incidence of antinuclear (ANA) and antithyroid antibodies (ATA) in each patient, as well as the incidence of antibodies to gastric parietal cell (APCA), smooth muscle (SMA), cord (ACA) and mitochondrial antigens (AMA) in 38 children with vitiligo and in control groups.

Results: Children with vitiligo had positive family history of vitiligo more often compared to children without vitiligo (p<.05). Presence of ANA, ATA, APCA, SMA, ACA and AMA was not considerably increased in children with vitiligo compared with their age group. ANA was more common in adults with vitiligo, in comparison with children with vitiligo (p<0.05). None of the children with vitiligo had an associated autoimmune and endocrine disease in contrast to adults with vitiligo (p<0.05).

Discussion And Conclusion: Several studies have shown a significant incidence of positive autoantibodies in children with vitiligo, compared to children without vitiligo. However, in our series, presence of ANA, ATA, APCA, SMA, ACA and AMA was not significantly increased in children with vitiligo, compared with children without vitiligo. Further studies are necessary in this area in order to draw more conclusions. In the previous studies, it has been established that children with vitiligo were generally healthy, whereas adults with vitiligo had an increased incidence of autoimmune and/or endocrine diseases. No studies have shown this association in children with vitiligo. Our results support findings of previous studies.