The Clinical Significance of Symmetry in the Distribution of Vitiligo Lesions

Jeon, Eun Kyoung; Park, Young Ok; Kim, Chang Duk; Seo, Young Joon; Lee, Jeung Hoon; Park, Jang Kyu

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is an acquired disease that causes depigmented patches of various sizes. The most widely used method of classification is by the distribution, which is categorized into four types: localized, segmental, universal, and generalized vitiligo. In addition, vitiligo can be divided into segmental and non-segmental, according to its relation to dermatomes. However, few studies have compared the clinical features and prognosis with the symmetry of the vitiligo lesions.
OBJECTIVE
We examined 690 vitiligo patients to investigate the clinical significance of symmetry in the distribution of vitiligo lesions.
METHODS
The clinical characteristics, distribution, and lesion sizes were investigated in 690 patients who were diagnosed with vitilgo at the Dermatology Department of Chungnam National University Hospital from January 1991 to August 2006.
RESULTS
Of the 690 vitiligo patients, 369 (53.3%) had symmetric vitiligo lesions and 321 (46.5%) had asymmetric lesions. Patients with symmetric lesions had an older age of onset, longer duration of disease, wider distribution area, and greater tendency of the lesions to enlarge with time.
CONCLUSION
Our clinical classification method, based on the the symmetry of the vitiligo lesions, may help physicians to predict the course and prognosis of the disease. Therefore, the dissemination of new vitiligo lesions in symmetric vitiligo patients should be observed closely.