Narrow-band UVB for the treatment of vitiligo: an emerging effective and well-tolerated therapy.
BACKGROUND
Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentation disorder of great cosmetic importance, affecting 1% of the general population. Photochemotherapy is the most commonly used treatment modality in extensive vitiligo, but is associated with many short- and long-term side-effects. Recently, narrow-band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy has been reported to be an effective and safe therapeutic option in patients with vitiligo. We studied the efficacy and safety of NBUVB (311 nm) therapy in Indian patients with generalized vitiligo.


METHODS
Fourteen patients (six males and eight females), aged 12-56 years, with generalized vitiligo, were treated thrice weekly with NBUVB radiation therapy for a maximum period of 1 year.


RESULTS
At the end of 1 year, 10 patients (71.4%) had marked to complete repigmentation and two each (14.3%) had moderate or mild repigmentation. Repigmentation sites showed an excellent color match. The response to therapy was correlated with the sites of involvement, duration of disease, and compliance to therapy. Adverse events were limited and transient.


CONCLUSIONS
NBUVB therapy is effective and safe in Indian patients with vitiligo. Long-term follow up is required, however, to establish the stability of repigmentation.
Kanwar
Amrinder Jit
AJ
Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. sundogra@hotmail.com
Dogra
Sunil
S
Parsad
Davinder
D
Kumar
Bhushan
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005121:Extremities / Q000473:pathology; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012449:Safety; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000528:radiation effects; D013909:Thorax / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000145:classification; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*