title: The effect of 308nm excimer laser on segmental vitiligo: a retrospective study of 80 patients with segmental vitiligo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Segmental vitiligo (SV), which frequently accompanies poliosis, indicating a poor prognosis that is likely resistant to treatments.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the treatment response to 308 nm excimer laser in SV patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart and photographic review was performed on 80 SV patients who had been treated with 308nm excimer laser for >3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty patients with SV (mean age: 24.0 years ± 15.3, males: 50%) were included in this study. The mean grade of repigmentation was 2.3 after 20.6 months of mean treatment duration; 23.8% of 80 patients showed grade 4, 20% showed grade 3, and 56.2% showed grade 1-2 repigmentation. However, none of them achieved complete repigmentation with excimer laser. The degree of repigmentation was positively correlated with treatment duration (r=0.315, P=0.004) and cumulative ultraviolet (UV) dosage (r=0.366, P=0.001), whereas it was negatively correlated with disease duration (r=-0.265, P=0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that SV has a better repigmentation response when excimer laser is used at earlier stages of the disease and long-term use and high cumulative UV energy of the excimer laser elicit better responses. Additional treatments like surgical procedures in addition to excimer laser should be considered for complete repigmentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Drs Woo and Hann's Skin Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Jae Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Do-Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hann
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*