title: From basic research to the bedside: efficacy of topical treatment with pseudocatalase PC-KUS in 71 children with vitiligo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidermal accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) has been documented in vitiligo.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect on disease cessation and repigmentation of the reduction/removal of H(2)O(2) using low-dose, narrow-band, ultraviolet-B (UV-B)-activated pseudocatalase PC-KUS in 71 children with vitiligo.
  
  
  METHODS
  This uncontrolled and retrospective study included 45 girls and 26 boys (mean age, 10.3 years) who applied topical PC-KUS twice daily to the entire body surface without narrow-band UV-B dose increments. The affected body areas were documented by special photography at the first visit and after 8-12 months. The response was evaluated by two independent physicians as > 75% vs. < 75% total repigmentation of the face/neck, trunk, extremities, and hands/feet. Generalized (n = 61) and segmental (n = 10) vitiligo were evaluated as different entities. The effect of total-body, low-dose, narrow-band UV-B (0.15 mJ/cm(2)) monotherapy once daily without any increments and without application of PC-KUS was tested over 6 months in 10 children with vitiligo vulgaris (mean age, 8.4 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred per cent cessation was observed in 70 of the 71 children. More than 75% repigmentation was achieved in 66 of 71 patients on the face/neck, 48 of 61 on the trunk, and 40 of 55 on the extremities; however, repigmentation on the hands/feet was disappointing (five of 53). The response was independent of skin color, age of onset, duration of disease, other demographic features, and previous treatments. The follow-up after narrow-band UV-B monotherapy showed no significant repigmentation in all areas. Seven of 10 patients showed progression of their vitiligo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A reduction in epidermal H(2)O(2) using low-dose, narrow-band UV-B-activated pseudocatalase PC-KUS is an effective treatment for childhood vitiligo which can be safely performed at home.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK. K.Schallreuter@Bradford.ac.uk
authors.forename: Karin U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Schallreuter
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Brigitte A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Würfel
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Panske
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002374:Catalase / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012106:Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: C038109:pseudocatalase; D002374:Catalase