Vitiligo in Tanzania: a study of the clinical types of the disease prevalence of autoimmunity and problems of management.

Abstract

67 African vitiligo patients have been studied. Idiopathic Vitiligo was the most frequent clinical type encountered. The disease presents before adulthood in the majority of the victims. Samples 0from 40 patients were analysed for autoantibodies. Antinuclear antibody tests were positive in 25 percent of the patients. Gastric parietal cell antibody was weakly positive in one patient. All samples were negative for thyroid antibodies. Of 30 patients who used meladinine, 16 attained cosmetically acceptable repigmentation. The results are discussed in relation to what is known about autoimmunity and vitiligo as well as autoimmunity in the African. The problems of managing vitiligo patients in Tanzania are also discussed.