Evaluation of the Prevalence and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Vitiligo Patients

Background: Vitiligo is a common disease of the skin, affecting epidermis and hair follicles. Both genders are affected. The main pathogenic mechanism of the disease is the destruction or inhibition of the epidermal melanocytes which is manifested clinically by presence of variable sized areas of skin depigmentation that can affect any site of the body. Aim of the work: To estimate the prevalence and risk of metabolic syndrome in vitiligo patients. Patients and Methods: This is a case control study that was conducted on 90 patients with vitiligo recruited from outpatient clinic, dermatology department of Al Azhar University Hospital in Damietta, and 60 healthy controls. Full history was taken from all the subjects included in the study. The cases were also subjected to careful general examination and dermatological examination to determine the site and the type of the lesion and the presence of any dermatological diseases, laboratory investigations including HDL, TG and FBS were done. Results: In this study we found that 35.6% of cases have metabolic syndrome while 33.3% of healthy controls have metabolic syndrome. We also found that there is no relation between presence of metabolic syndrome and disease extent, progression or stage. Conclusion: Incidence of metabolic syndrome is slightly higher in cases with vitiligo as compared to the control group. Presence of metabolic syndrome is not associated with disease severity, extent or stage.