Tacalcitol and narrow-band phototherapy in patients with vitiligo.
BACKGROUND
Vitiligo is a skin disease characterized by loss of normal pigmentation in the skin. Several treatments exist but none is really effective. Recently, perturbations of calcium homeostasis in vitiliginous epidermis have been described.


OBJECTIVE
Based on these findings, the aim of this prospective, randomized, open-label study was to compare the effectiveness of narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy alone and the combination of NB-UVB and topical application of the vitamin D(3) analogue tacalcitol in the treatment of vitiligo.


METHODS
In total, 32 subjects with generalized vitiligo and symmetrical lesions were enrolled in the study. Subjects were instructed to apply tacalcitol ointment daily to the lesion on the side randomly selected to receive combination therapy. All subjects received NB-UVB phototherapy on a twice-weekly schedule.


RESULTS
Addition of topical tacalcitol to NB-UVB treatment improved the extent of repigmentation and increased the response rate in patients with vitiligo compared with NB-UVB treatment alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of tacalcitol ointment in combination with twice-weekly NB-UVB phototherapy is an effective alternative treatment for patients with generalized vitiligo.
Phototherapy Unit, S. Gallicano Dermatological Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
G
G
Leone
A
A
Pacifico
P
P
Iacovelli
A
A
Paro Vidolin
M
M
Picardo
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004100:Dihydroxycholecalciferols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004100:Dihydroxycholecalciferols; D009824:Ointments; C023850:1 alpha,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3