Vitiligo Workup

  • Author: Vlada Groysman, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 29, 2011
 

Laboratory Studies

Although the diagnosis of vitiligo generally is made on the basis of clinical findings, biopsy is occasionally helpful for differentiating vitiligo from other hypopigmentary disorders.

Vitiligo may be associated with other autoimmune diseases, especially thyroid disease and diabetes mellitus. Other associated autoimmune diseases include pernicious anemia, Addison disease, and alopecia areata. Patients should be made aware of signs and symptoms that suggest the onset of hypothyroidism, diabetes, or other autoimmune disease. If signs or symptoms occur, appropriate tests should be performed.[21]

Thyrotropin testing is the most cost-effective screening test for thyroid disease. Antinuclear antibody screening is also helpful. A CBC count with indices helps rule out anemia.

Clinicians should also consider investigating for serum antithyroglobulin and antithyroid peroxidase antibodies, particularly if thyroid involvement is suspected. Antithyroid peroxidase antibodies are regarded as a sensitive and specific marker of autoimmune thyroid antibodies. Screening for diabetes can be accomplished with fasting blood glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin testing.

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Other Tests

Vitiligo is diagnosed by means of inspection with a Wood lamp.

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Histologic Findings

Microscopic examination of involved skin shows a complete absence of melanocytes in association with a total loss of epidermal pigmentation. Superficial perivascular and perifollicular lymphocytic infiltrates may be observed at the margin of vitiliginous lesions, consistent with a cell-mediated process destroying melanocytes. Degenerative changes have been documented in keratinocytes and melanocytes in both the border lesions and adjacent skin. Other documented changes include increased numbers of Langerhans cells, epidermal vacuolization, and thickening of the basement membrane. Loss of pigment and melanocytes in the epidermis is highlighted by Fontana-Masson staining and immunohistochemistry testing.[22, 23]

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Vlada Groysman, MD  Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama School of Medicine

Vlada Groysman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Medical Dermatology Society, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Naveed Sami, MD, FAAD  Assistant Professor Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mark G Lebwohl, MD  Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Mark G Lebwohl, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Amgen/Pfizer Honoraria Consulting; Centocor/Janssen Honoraria Consulting; DermiPsor Honoraria Consulting; GlaxoSmithKline Honoraria Consulting; HelixBioMedix Honoraria Consulting; Novartis Honoraria Consulting; Ranbaxy Lectures; Can-Fite Biopharma Honoraria Consulting; DermaGenoma Honoraria Consulting; Biosynexus Honoraria Consulting

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Edward F Chan, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Edward F Chan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Seung-Kyung Hann, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

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Trichrome vitiligo.
Marginal inflammatory vitiligo.
Segmental vitiligo.
Nonsegmental vitiligo.
 
 
 
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