Clinical Prognostic Factors Predicting Outcomes in Vitiligo: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Medical Research

Background:

• Non-segmental vitiligo progression is unpredictable, with varied phenotypes and limited literature on influencing factors.
• Understanding disease course, extent, and treatment response is essential for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review identifying factors influencing non-segmental vitiligo outcomes.
• Focus on disease progression, extent, and response to therapy.

Main Methods:

• Adherence to PRISMA-ScR guidelines for a comprehensive scoping review.
• Searched PubMed and Google Scholar (Jan 1995-Dec 2023) for observational, retrospective, case-control, and cohort studies.
• Included 22 articles after screening 922 records and evaluating 27 full texts.

Main Results:

• Family history, mucosal involvement, Koebnerization, and adverse clinical markers are linked to poorer prognoses.
• Longer disease duration, leukotrichia, and mucosal involvement correlate with greater body surface area affected and poor repigmentation.
• Age of onset showed conflicting results for progression but agreement on extent; confetti-like lesions associated with progression.

Conclusions:

• Patients with poor prognostic markers (family history, mucosal lesions, Koebnerization) require close monitoring and early treatment consideration.
• Understanding prognostic factors aids clinicians in tailoring individualized management strategies for non-segmental vitiligo.
• Further prospective studies with long-term follow-up are needed to define progression patterns and predictors.