title: Effect of one session of ER:YAG laser ablation plus topical 5Fluorouracil on the outcome of short-term NB-UVB phototherapy in the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo: a left-right comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  NB-UVB phototherapy is a very important modality in treating vitiligo but the treatment course usually exceeds 1 year. Skin ablation with mechanical dermabrasion with 5Fluorouracil (5FU) was introduced to treat vitiligo in 1983. This was modified replacing the mechanical dermabrasion by erbium-YAG (ER:YAG) laser ablation and resulted in better prognosis in periungual vitiligo.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we are exploring the effect of the use of ER:YAG laser skin ablation and application of 5FU on the outcome of short-term NB-UVB therapy for patients with non-segmental vitiligo (NSV).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 50 adult patients with a total of 65-paired symmetrical NSV lesions in different body parts. One side was treated with ER:YAG laser ablation, followed by 5FU application before simultaneous NB-UVB therapy of both sides for a maximum period of 4 months. The outcome was then evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response to therapy was better using the combination therapy. Fifty patients (78.1%) experienced a moderate-marked repigmentation response in the combination group compared with 23.4% in the mono-therapy group. The response was significantly higher when using the combination therapy in different body parts (P value is <0.05), except for feet lesions, which were better but not statistically significant (P value=0.15). Tolerable pain during ablation or at sites of 5FU application was reported in all cases. Transient hyperpigmentation occurred in 30% of cases and 3.1% of lesions healed by a transient slate blue color. Half of the treated periungual lesions showed a temporary tiny brownish spot on nail plates and Köebnerization was not detected in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that prior use of ER:YAG laser skin ablation, followed by 5FU application before NB-UVB phototherapy for vitiligo is a safe and tolerable technique that improves the outcome of short-term NB-UVB therapy and is expected to increase patient compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Al-Minya University, Al-Minya, Egypt. taganbar@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tag S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Anbar
authors.forename: Wiete
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Westerhof
authors.forename: Amal T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Abdel-Rahman
authors.forename: Ashraf A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ewis
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El-Khayyat
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D005472:Fluorouracil