Increased frequency of self-reported parasomnias in patients suffering from vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin disorder of unknown aetiology, affecting 0.1-2% of the general population. The aim of the present study was to investigate its relationship with sleep disorders, especially parasomnias. Two hundred and sixteen individuals were examined. Among them, 116 were suffering from vitiligo, 52 from other dermatological diseases and 48 were healthy subjects, serving as a control group. An inventory including items related to sleep disorders from childhood and adolescence was used. The study was focused specifically on parasomnias. Patients suffering from vitiligo reported a significantly higher occurrence of sleepwalking, nocturnal enuresis, night illusions, sleep terrors and nightmares than that of the control group, prior to the manifestation of the disease. Patients suffering from other dermatological diseases only reported significantly more often nightmares and nocturnal enuresis compared to the control group. A relationship between parasomnias during early life and later development of vitiligo was detected. This finding supports the hypothesis that neural mechanisms involving monoaminergic systems (especially the serotoninergic one) may potentially be involved in the aetiopathology of vitiligo.