Heal House Vitiligo Research 06 · Original Article
Does having vitiligo increase the risk of thyroid disease or thyroid cancer?
Vitiligo and overt thyroid diseases: A nationwide population-based study in Korea.
Last reviewed
In short
Autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis were significantly more common in people with vitiligo. Thyroid cancer was also slightly more common.
During clinical practice, we saw many patients who also had thyroid abnormalities or thyroid disease. This is a well-known comorbidity. However, it was not enough to rely on the impression that it was "more common." We wanted to know exactly how much more common it was and whether it extended to thyroid cancer. In this context, we began this study using National Health Insurance data.
Q1 Which thyroid conditions were more common?
Two autoimmune conditions, Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, were significantly more common. We compared 73,336 vitiligo patients with 146,672 controls. Graves' disease was about 2.6 times more common, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis was about 1.6 times more common. Both diseases occur when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. This shares a common root with vitiligo, which attacks pigment cells.
Risk of thyroid disease in vitiligo patients (compared to controls)
| Disease | Odds ratio (OR) | In simple terms |
|---|---|---|
| Graves' disease | 2.61 | About 2.6 times more common |
| Hashimoto's thyroiditis | 1.61 | About 1.6 times more common |
| Thyroid cancer | 1.13 | About 13% more common |
Q2 Was the risk of thyroid cancer also higher?
Thyroid cancer was also slightly more common. However, the increase was not large. It was about 13% more common. Unlike autoimmune thyroid diseases, which showed a several-fold increase, this was a modest increase. We hope you keep this in mind. However, this trend was more pronounced in men and younger patients. If you notice swelling in the front of your neck or a palpable change, we recommend getting it checked.
Q3 So what should you do?
If you have been diagnosed with vitiligo, we recommend having a thyroid function test at least once. This is especially important for men or those who developed vitiligo at a young age, as the association was stronger in these groups. If you experience symptoms such as fatigue, weight changes, or unusual sensitivity to cold or heat, do not delay in getting checked. A simple blood test can detect hidden problems early.
Closing remarks
This study gives us solid grounds to recommend thyroid testing for patients with vitiligo. Because it brings together large-scale Korean data on the association not only with autoimmune thyroid disease but also with thyroid cancer, I often cite it in clinical practice. Looking beyond the white patches on the skin to also check the thyroid gland is, I believe, the proper way to care for vitiligo.
