INTERCEPT STUDY

Current definitions of vitiligo severity focus narrowly on depigmentation, ignoring factors like lesion activity, skin type, and quality of life (QoL). Similarly, no consensus exists on what constitutes a relapse or “flare-up,” complicating assessments for emerging therapies. This global project, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, aims to establish clear, universally accepted criteria for vitiligo severity and relapse. By integrating insights from patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, it seeks to refine care pathways and advance the adoption of innovative treatments worldwide.

A Truly International Collaboration

Historically, severity of vitiligo has been synonymous with extent of disease i.e. degree of depigmentation. Although, severity of vitiligo maybe closely associated with disease extent, it may entail additional factors, such as disease activity, location of lesions, skin phototype, and other patient-related factors.

n addition, impact on quality of life (QoL) can also significantly contribute to the perception of severity of vitiligo. It has been shown previously that QoL is related to factors such as the time of disease onset, gender, age, cultural differences, limitations in social life and differences in coping mechanisms with the disease (e.g. anger, embarrassment, shame, depression).

Usually, existing severity evaluation methods for vitiligo reflect physicians' perspectives only, disregarding patient's perception of disease severity; however, severity of vitiligo is a multifaceted term and input from patients and their cares, as well as HCPs are crucial in defining and categorising this term. There is still lack of international consensus on definition of severity of vitiligo.

On the other hand, there is no unified definition of relapse or “flare up” of vitiligo. In the dawn on new therapeutic era of several emerging treatments for vitiligo, the lack of definitions of “disease severity” and of term “flare up/relapse of vitiligo” became apparent, when technology appraisals and assessments reports must be produced for commissionaires, funding bodies and for reimbursement purposes.

The objectives of this project is to answer the following research questions:

What are the definition criteria of mild, moderate and severe vitiligo?
How best to define flare up/relapse of vitiligo?

This project aims to engage stakeholders internationally to ensure widespread adoption of the results for implementation into patient care pathways.

This truly international project is conducted in collaboration with the University of Birmingham.