A study of Halo naevi, vitiligo and asymptomatic autoimmune thyroiditis

Halo Naevus (HN) is a dermatologic condition characterized by a typical whitish rim around an existing melanocytic congenital or acquired nevus, it was first described in 1916 by Sutton[1]. Halo nævi are common in children and young adults, with a mean age at onset of 15 years. The incidence in general population is estimated to be approximately 1%[2]. Affected individuals frequently have multiple lesions which are usually localized on the back. HN is an autoimmune response and T lymphocytes are considered to play a key role in the progressive destruction of nævus' cells. Multiple HN is rather rare and this could suggest a higher risk of vitiligo or of autoimmune disease development comparing to solitary HN lesion risks. The mechanism of halo phenomenon is still non completely defined and is suggested to be induced by a destruction of melanocytes by immune response of cytotoxic T cells[3] or due to IgM autoantibodies induction[4]. Purpose   We sought to assess the association of Hallo Naevi (HN) or of HN-vitiligo with thyroiditis by screening markers of thyroiditis in patients presenting Hallo Naevi (HN) and HN associated with vitiligo.