Objective: To determine the clinical and immunological changes encountered in patients with vitiligo in Al-Ain population, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Design: This is a prospective descriptive hospital-based study.
Setting: Al-Ain Medical District, Al-Ain Hospital, United Arab Emirates.
Subjects: Patients who were seen at Al-Ain hospital for skin diseases during 1996.
Results: The study was based on 65 patients. The sample consisted 32 (49%) males and 33 (51%) females. The mean and standard deviation of age for males were 38.6 +/- 13.5 years and for females were 35.1 +/- 15.9 years. Most of the patients were UAE, Omani and Pakistani nationals. Positive family history of vitiligo was found in 19% of the patients. Association with other immune diseases was found in 6% of the patients while one or more organ specific antibodies, all of whom were females, most of them had positive history of autoimmune diseases.
Conclusion: Vitiligo is more common among UAE nationals since the UAE community including a multi-national society.