Abstract: LI Yang, ZHU Yi-ping, XU Ai-e. Department of Dermatology, Third People′s Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou 310009, China Corresponding author: XU Ai-e, Email: xuaiehz@msn.com 【Abstract】 Objective To analyze the clinical features and evolution of segmental vitiligo in children. Methods A standardized questionnaire was used to clinically investigate segmental vitiligo in 170 children aged < or = 12 years and 174 adults with an age of onset > 18 years. Data analysis was done by the software SPSS16.0. Results The female to male ratio was 108 ∶ 62 in the 170 child patients, significantly different from that in the adult patients （χ2 = 14.44, P < 0.05）. Localized vitiligo occurred as the initial presentation in 82.9% （141/170） of the children and 76.4% （133/174） of the adults, and progressed into segmental vitiligo in half a year in 76.5% of the 141 children and 63.9% of the 133 adults. Vitiligo entered the quiescent stage after half-a-year progression in 71.6% of the children and 67.3% of the adults with localized vitiligo as the initial presentation, and after one-month progression in 62.1% of the children and 41.5% of the adults with segmental vitiligo as the first presentation （χ2 = 8.39, P < 0.01）. Head and face were affected at the onset of segmental vitiligo in 44.1% of the childhood cases and 56.9% of the adult cases. Single nerve segments were involved at the onset in 94.7% of the child patients and 86.8% of the adult patients （χ2 = 0.04, P > 0.05）. The proportions of patients with white hairs, autoimmune diseases, and family history were significantly lower in the child patients than in the adult patients （χ2 = 15.88, 5.62, 6.66 respectively, all P < 0.05）. Conclusions Childhood-onset segmental vitiligo shows a predilection for males, usually presents as localized vitiligo at the onset, and becomes quiescent after half-a-year progression in more than 70% of patients.

Key words: Clinical Study