Abstract: Objective To analyze the clinical features and to explore the potential mode of genetic transmission of vitiligo vulgaris in Chinese Han population. Methods Information on the clinical features and the familial history of patients with vitiligo vulgaris was collected by a uniform questionnaire. The data were inputted into a data base, then analyzed by Epi Info 5.0 and SPSS 10.0 software packages. A complex segregation analysis was conducted using the REGTL program in SAGE 3.1 package in order to propose the putative mode of genetic transmission for vitiligo vulgaris. Results The mean age of onset of vitiligo vulgaris of the males and females was about 19 years old. In the severity of the disease and the season of onset, there was no significant difference between males and females. For the patients with vitiligo vulgaris, there was a female preponderance of complicating with autoimmune disorders, especially hyperthyroidism. The prevalence rates of vitiligo in patients' relatives were significantly higher than that in general population. The mode of transmission of vitiligo vulgaris was one of the multifactorial inheritance according to the results obtained by the complex segregation analysis. Conclusions There are no differences in the prevalence and the age of onset between males and females patients. There is a marked familial aggregation in the patients with vitiligo vulgaris. The familial clustering might result from the polygenic additive genetic background and common environmental factors. It is suggested that vitiligo vulgaris be a multifactorial complex disease.

Key words: Vitiligo, Genetic epidemiology