Principal Investigator:
Anna Cristina Garza-Mayers, MD, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Overview:
Vitiligo is an acquired disorder of pigment loss in the skin present in approximately 1% of the population. It can be psychologically devastating, particularly in children and patients with darker skin. There is data to suggest vitiligo is associated with hearing and vision loss, but few studies have included children. Studies also suggest that a main treatment of vitiligo, narrowband UVB phototherapy, is not as commonly used in children, though it is safe and effective in adults. Newer therapeutic options may similarly not be as accessible to pediatric patients. The goals of this project are two-fold and will evaluate screening for systemic disease as well as access to therapeutics in children, to identify and improve gaps in the longitudinal care of pediatric vitiligo.
Status:
This project was funded by a 2022 Weston Career Development Award.