Vitiligo Associated With Sarcoidosis: Case Based Review

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is characterized by non-caseating granulomatous inflammation that predominantly affects the lungs. Cutaneous involvement occurs in 20 to 35 percent of the patients and may emerge as the initial manifestation of the disease. Erythema nodosum and lupus pernio are the specific skin manifestations of cutaneous sarcoidosis. Many different skin lesions including hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation that mimic other primary skin and systemic diseases may occur in sarcoidosis patients. Cutaneous involvement always poses a diagnostic dilemma in all patients with or without a previous sarcoidosis diagnosis. In this review, we present two sarcoidosis patients who subsequently developed vitiligo. The main aim is to discuss the underlying pathologic mechanisms of sarcoidosis associated with vitiligo and to define the potential relationship between these two autoimmune disorders. The second target is to specify a diagnostic pathway in sarcoidosis patients associated with skin involvement in the light of the current literature data.