Clinicodemographic features of mixed vitiligo: a case–control study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mixed vitiligo (MV) is the coexistence of segmental vitiligo (SV) and non-segmental vitiligo (NSV). The literature on MV is sparse. OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinicodemographic and treatment parameters in MV and compare them with SV. METHODS: Clinical data of MV and SV patients enrolled in our pigmentary clinic from July 2015 to December 2019 were reviewed retrospectively and compared. RESULTS: Out of a total of 4,371 vitiligo patients, 293 (6.7%) were SV while 74 (1.69%) were MV. As compared to SV, MV had significantly lower mean age of onset of segmental component (SC) (13.33 ± 9.01 vs. 15.70 ± 8.60 years, P = 0.03) and significantly higher proportion of patients with more than 1% body surface involvement by SC (66.2% vs. 51.5%, P = 0.03) and presence of leukotrichia in the SC (66.2% vs. 51.5%, P = 0.03). Topical agents and systemic immunosuppressive agents were significantly more effective in non-segmental component (NSC) as compared to SC of MV. Surgical modalities were the only effective treatment modality for SC. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design, heterogeneity of treatment regimens. CONCLUSION: Early age of onset, larger (>1%) body surface area involvement, and leukotrichia in SV predict its progression into MV with time. Treatment response to different modalities varies significantly between SC and NSC of MV.