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Vitiligo rates increase after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation had a significantly increased rate of vitiligo development compared with controls, according to study results published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Researchers used the Korean National Health Insurance Claims Database to perform a nationwide, population-based cohort study between 2009 and 2013. Patients enrolled included 2,474 patients who had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) between 2010 and 2013, and 8,241 controls who had undergone hemorrhoidectomy or appendectomy in the same time period. Patients in both cohorts had no diagnosis of vitiligo in 2009, which excluded those with pre-existing active vitiligo.

Between 2010 and 2013, 29 patients in the HSCT cohort developed vitiligo after HSCT (incidence rate, 1.06%), compared with 29 patients in the control cohort (incidence rate, 0.34%). Patients in the HSCT cohort had a significant increased risk for subsequent vitiligo (OR = 3.13; 95% CI, 1.859-5.271) after adjustment for sex and age.

There was an independent association with the development of vitiligo and allogeneic HSCT (OR = 5.593; 95% CI, 1.628-19.213) and bone marrow-sourced stem cells (compared with peripheral blood-sourced stem cells; OR = 2.492; 95% CI, 1.114-5.576).

“Allograft and bone marrow transplantation were independent risk factors for vitiligo after HSCT,” the researchers concluded. “Our findings aid in the better understanding of the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact pathogenic mechanism for the development of vitiligo after HSCT.” – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.