title: Topical immunomodulators are effective for treatment of vitiligo.
abstract: Vitiligo is a common, acquired, depigmenting disease of the skin. Although the pathogenesis of vitiligo is still unclear, it is postulated that topical immunomodulators exert therapeutic effects on treatment of vitiligo. We reviewed the treatment of vitiligo with topical immunomodulators and topical steroids to evaluate the efficacy of immunomodulators in treatment of vitiligo. We reviewed 52 patients treated with topical immunomodulators and 27 patients with topical steroids. To evaluate the efficacy, repigmentation of vitiligo was reviewed. Between the two treatments, the duration from the start of treatment to onset of repigmentation was significantly shorter in the topical immunomodulator group (P = 0.002). However, no statistically significant differences were found in sex, age, mean disease duration, sites of vitiligo lesion and ratio of patients who showed response. We may suggest topical immunomodulator as an alternative to topical steroids for treatment of vitiligo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Kyounggi, Korea.
authors.forename: Chong Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bak
authors.forename: Jee Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyun Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chang Hun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Chan Woong
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seog Kyun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.forename: Beom Joon
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myeung Nam
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D009824:Ointments; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus