Randomized controlled study to evaluate the effectiveness of dexamethasone oral minipulse therapy versus oral minocycline in patients with active vitiligo vulgaris.
BACKGROUND
Oral minocycline has been recently shown to halt disease progression in active vitiligo.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was planned to compare the efficacy and tolerability of oral minocycline with oral mini pulse (OMP) corticosteroids in active vitiligo.


METHODS
A total of 50 patients with actively spreading vitiligo were randomized to receive either minocycline 100 mg/day (Group I-25 patients) or OMP 2.5 mg dexamethasone on 2 consecutive days in a week (Group II-25 patients) for 6 months. These were followed-up at every 2 weeks interval. Mean vitiligo disease activity score (VIDA) and mean Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) were assessed in all patients in addition to the photographic comparison before and after treatment.


RESULTS
Both groups showed a significant decrease in VIDA from 4.0 to 1.64±0.86 (P<0.001) in Group I and from 4.0 to 1.68±0.69 (P<0.001) in Group II. However, the difference between the mean VIDA scores in the two groups was not statistically significant (P=0.60) at the end of treatment period. The mean VASI declined from 1.71±1.45 to 1.52±1.43 Group I (P=0.06) and from 1.39±1.31 to 1.17±1.34 in Group II (P=0.05). The difference between VASI in Group I and II was not significant at the end of 24 weeks of treatment (P=0.11).


CONCLUSIONS
Both dexamethasone OMP and oral minocycline are effective drugs for managing the arrest of disease activity in vitiligo.
Akhilendra
A
Singh
Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Amrinder Jit
AJ
Kanwar
Davinder
D
Parsad
Rahul
R
Mahajan
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008911:Minocycline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010781:Photography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008911:Minocycline