Vitiligo in North-eastern China: An Association between Mucosal and Acrofacial Lesions

Vitiligo is a mucocutaneous pigmentary disorder with worldwide distribution. Little is known about the clinical profile of vitiligo in North-eastern China. Accordingly, we reviewed 692 vitiligo out-patients from seven government hospitals in North-eastern China via a questionnaire in a multi-centre study conducted between June 2007 and June 2008, and hence characterized the epidemiology of vitiligo in North-eastern China. The mean +/- standard deviation age of onset was 23.69 +/- 13.83 years (range < 1-77 years). No gender preponderance was seen. The back was the most common site of involvement (39.6%). Vitiligo vulgaris was the predominant form (53.5%). Mucosal lesions were associated with lesions on the feet (odds ratio (OR) = 3.177, p < 0.001), hands (OR = 2.228, p < 0.01), face (OR = 2.028, p < 0.05) and neck (OR = 0.454, p < 0.05); but were not associated with chest, abdomen, waist, arms, legs or scalp lesions. Mucosal vitiligo is probably a special form of acrofacial vitiligo.