title: Intrapatient comparison of 308-nm monochromatic excimer light and localized narrow-band UVB phototherapy in the treatment of vitiligo: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited data are available about the use of 308-nm monochromatic excimer light (MEL) and localized 311-nm narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) in the treatment of vitiligo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 308-nm MEL versus localized 311-nm NB-UVB in vitiligo patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients participated in this prospective intrapatient placebo-controlled randomized trial. In each patient, 3 lesions were selected and treated with NB-UVB, MEL and placebo during 24 sessions, respectively. Repigmentation was evaluated clinically and by objective surface measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty percent of the lesions treated with NB-UVB achieved repigmentation scores above 50%. None of the lesions treated with MEL achieved a repigmentation higher than 50% after 24 sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Localized 311-nm NB-UVB is effective in the treatment of vitiligo. It should be considered for localized vitiligo as it is easily accessible. In this study the efficacy of localized 311-nm NB-UVB was superior to 308-nm MEL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. evelien.verhaeghe@ugent.be
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lodewick
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Geel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D055815:Young Adult