Total serum IgE levels in vitiligo with special consideration of atopy

Background: Atopy is according to some authors frequently accompanying vitiligo. We investigated the problem in a series of patients. Materials and Methods: 64 vitiligo patients and 58 controls of a similar age and sex distribution participated in the study. Detailed histories concerning the atopic diseases and total serum IgE levels were obtained. These findings were assessed considering also the type of vitiligo, the age of onset and familial characteristics of patients. Results: No significant difference was found between the total serum of IgE levels of patients with vitiligo and the control group. The percentage of patients expressing the atopy was the same in both groups. There were also no significant differences between separate groups of vitiligo patients in either generalized, localized, acrofacial or segmental forms. Serum total IgE levels in patients who displayed atopic features were found to be significantly advanced when compared with the patients who did not have an atopic condition (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings do not support the existence of an atopic vitiligo subgroup; however, atopy may accompany vitiligo just as it may accompany other diseases. If the atopic patients were excluded there was no significant difference in IgE serum levels between patients in the vitiligo and control group.