OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is an increased prevalence of systemic autoimmune diseases in both patients with white spot syndromes (WSS) and their family members. METHODS: Patients with WSS at participating institutions were asked to complete a questionnaire reporting their own medical histories as well as any autoimmune diseases among their first- and second-degree relatives. RESULTS: As of January 1, 2008, 114 questionnaires had been collected, providing medical histories of 114 patients with WSS and 1098 family members. The number of patients with WSS with self-reported systemic autoimmune diseases was 26 (23%). Of 1098 relatives, 106 (10%) had at least 1 autoimmune disease. Systemic autoimmunity was more prevalent in female relatives (13%) as compared with male relatives (6%). In addition, the prevalence of autoimmunity was significantly higher among first-degree relatives (13%) than second-degree relatives (8%). Patients who themselves had systemic autoimmune diseases showed a greater prevalence of systemic autoimmunity among their families as compared with the families of patients without systemic autoimmune diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that there is an increased prevalence of systemic autoimmunity in both patients with WSS and their first- and second-degree relatives. This suggests that WSS occur in families with inherited immune dysregulation that predisposes to autoimmunity.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there is an increased prevalence of systemic autoimmune diseases in both patients with white spot syndromes (WSS) and their family members. METHODS:Patients with WSS at participating institutions were asked to complete a questionnaire reporting their own medical histories as well as any autoimmune diseases among their first- and second-degree relatives. RESULTS: As of January 1, 2008, 114 questionnaires had been collected, providing medical histories of 114 patients with WSS and 1098 family members. The number of patients with WSS with self-reported systemic autoimmune diseases was 26 (23%). Of 1098 relatives, 106 (10%) had at least 1 autoimmune disease. Systemic autoimmunity was more prevalent in female relatives (13%) as compared with male relatives (6%). In addition, the prevalence of autoimmunity was significantly higher among first-degree relatives (13%) than second-degree relatives (8%). Patients who themselves had systemic autoimmune diseases showed a greater prevalence of systemic autoimmunity among their families as compared with the families of patients without systemic autoimmune diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that there is an increased prevalence of systemic autoimmunity in both patients with WSS and their first- and second-degree relatives. This suggests that WSS occur in families with inherited immune dysregulation that predisposes to autoimmunity.
Authors: Adam T Gerstenblith; Jennifer E Thorne; Lucia Sobrin; Diana V Do; Syed Mahmood Shah; C Stephen Foster; Douglas A Jabs; Quan Dong Nguyen Journal: Ophthalmology Date: 2007-04-16 Impact factor: 12.079
Authors: Christopher D Conrady; Therese Sassalos; Wayne T Cornblath; David N Zacks; Mark W Johnson Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2021-05-29 Impact factor: 3.117
Authors: Joanna Brydak-Godowska; Joanna Gołębiewska; Monika Turczyńska; Joanna Moneta-Wielgoś; Agnieszka Samsel; Piotr K Borkowski; Michał Ciszek; Agnieszka Płonecka-Rodzoch; Aleksandra Kużnik-Borkowska; Joanna Ciszewska; Elżbieta Makomaska-Szaroszyk; Lidia B Brydak; Dariusz Kęcik Journal: Med Sci Monit Date: 2017-03-02