308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of localized vitiligo.
OBJECTIVE
Vitiligo is commonly treated with PUVA, and more recently, narrow-band UVB (NBUVB) phototherapy. Given the proximity of the wavelengths of NBUVB (311 nm) and the excimer laser (308 nm), we undertook a clinical trial to test the efficacy of this device.


METHODS
Twice-weekly 308-nm UV-B radiation was given to selected vitiligo lesions for a maximum of 60 treatments. These lesions had been unsuccessfully treated previously with at least one other method of treatment. Initial doses were 100 mJ/cm2 with increments of 10-25%. Improvement was assessed on a visual scale via serial photographs.


RESULTS
Subjects tolerated the treatment well. Improvement varied with body site. After 60 treatments, lesions on the hands and feet showed grade 2 improvement in 2/10 subjects and grade 1 in 8/10. For the axillae, there was grade 4 improvement in 1/3 subjects and grade 2 improvement in 2/3 by treatment 60. The face demonstrated the most rapid repigmentation with grade 4 repigmentation seen in 3/5 subjects by 40 treatments and grade 3 in 2/5 by 30 treatments. There were no adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
The user-friendly 308-nm excimer laser allows targeted treatments of localized vitiligo.
Taneja
Atul
A
Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Trehan
Manju
M
Taylor
Charles R
CR
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*