Disease Stability in Segmental and Non-Segmental Vitiligo

INTRODUCTION: Some therapeutic decisions in vitiligo depend on the likelihood of the disease remaining stable and inactive. AIM: To determine a period of disease stability in vitiligo following which reactivation was unlikely. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 200 patients where a detailed clinical history of the disease activity and stability over the course of vitiligo was recorded. RESULTS: There were 167 (83.5%) patients with non-segmental vitiligo and 33 (16.5%) with segmental vitiligo. For every 1-year increase in the duration of the disease, stable and active periods increased by 0.7 and 0.3 years, respectively in non-segmental vitiligo and by 0.9 and 0.1 years in segmental vitiligo (P < 0.01). When segmental vitiligo was stable for at least 2 years, it was five times less likely to re-activate than the disease that was stable for less than 2 years (P = 0.16). However, in non-segmental vitiligo, we found no association between the duration of stability and risk of reactivation. CONCLUSIONS: Segmental vitiligo usually becomes inactive after the disease has been stable for 2 years. Non-segmental vitiligo is prone to reactivation even after prolonged periods of stability.