Definition of Severity and Relapse for Vitiligo: An International Consensus Statement - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #severity-criteria
- #consensus-statement
- #vitiligo
- No international consensus existed on defining vitiligo severity or relapse prior to this study.
- Current measures like body surface area (BSA) do not fully capture the clinical and psychosocial effects of vitiligo.
- The study aimed to develop globally agreed-upon definitions for vitiligo severity and relapse.
- A mixed-methods approach was used, including literature review, qualitative studies, Delphi surveys, and consensus meetings.
- Participants included dermatologists, researchers, and people with vitiligo from diverse backgrounds.
- Consensus was reached that BSA alone is insufficient to assess vitiligo severity.
- Twelve criteria for upgrading severity were recommended, including major and minor criteria.
- Major criteria include spread/active disease, visible/high-impact areas, psychological distress, and stigmatization.
- Minor criteria include darker skin tones, younger age, scalp/facial hair involvement, and career/school impact.
- Relapse was defined as loss of pigmentation in previously repigmented lesions.
- The consensus aims to improve severity classification in clinical care, research, and regulatory frameworks.