title: Treatment of localized non-segmental vitiligo with intradermal 5-flurouracil injection combined with narrow-band ultraviolet B: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several treatment modalities had been used for the treatment of vitiligo but the optimal treatment has not yet been identified.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intradermal injection of 5-flurouracil (5-FU) combined with narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) as a treatment option for vitiligo.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 60 vitiligo patients with overall symmetrical lesions affecting less than 30% of body surface area. For each patient, one side of the body was treated with NB-UVB alone (control side) while the other side was treated with NB-UVB therapy in addition to intradermal injection of 5-FU (50 mg/ml), 0.01-0.02 ml per injection with 1 cm apart in skin of vitiligo, every 2 weeks for 4 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall repigmentation was significantly higher in the 5-FU side compared with control side in all body parts (p < 0.001) except for the acral lesions where the difference was not significant (p = 0.561). No systemic side effects of 5-FU were detected, and the majority of the patients reported pain during injections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intradermal 5-FU injection in combination with NB-UVB could be considered as a simple, safe, tolerable and cheap technique for treatment of vitiligo. It shortens the duration of NB-UVB therapy and improves the outcome, repigmentation. Longer follow-up is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Tanta University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Zeinab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abd El-Samad
authors.forename: Dalia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shaaban
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D005472:Fluorouracil