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Vitiligo and thyroid disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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European Journal of Dermatology Aims and scope

Abstract

Vitiligo is associated with (autoimmune) thyroid disease. However, confounding factors, including type and onset of vitiligo, require elucidation. We conducted a meta-analysis to identify vitiligo patients with increased risk of (autoimmune) thyroid disease. Studies were identified based on searches in PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception of these databases to August 31st, 2017. Odds ratios (ORs) for the prevalence of (autoimmune) thyroid disease and thyroid antibodies in vitiligo patients were pooled, and subgroup analysis was performed. Thirty-seven studies with 78,714 vitiligo patients met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of thyroid disease (TD) (OR: 3.932; 95% CI: 2.230–6.933), autoimmune TD (OR: 5.879; 95% CI: 2.682–12.885), anti-thyroperoxidase (TPO) antibody (OR: 3.838; 95% CI: 2.968–4.963), and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (OR: 3.513; 95% CI: 2.346–5.260) was significantly higher in vitiligo patients than in controls. Notably, the prevalence of TD and anti-TPO antibody was significantly higher in patients with non-segmental vitiligo, compared to those with segmental vitiligo. In contrast, the prevalence of TD was significantly lower in early-, compared to the late-onset vitiligo group (OR: 0.333; 95% CI: 0.244–0.453). Physicians should be aware of the increased risk of (autoimmune) thyroid disease in vitiligo patients. We recommend routine screening for anti-thyroid antibodies in vitiligo patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Kang-Chih Fan

  2. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Kang-Chih Fan

  3. Department of Dermatology, JingMei Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ting-Hua Yang

  4. Department of Dermatology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ting-Hua Yang & Yu-Chen Huang

  5. Departments of Dermatology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Yu-Chen Huang

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  1. Kang-Chih Fan
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  2. Ting-Hua Yang
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Correspondence to Yu-Chen Huang.

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Fan, KC., Yang, TH. & Huang, YC. Vitiligo and thyroid disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Dermatol 28, 750–763 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2018.3449

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