title: Objective assessment of vitiligo with a computerised digital imaging analysis system.
abstract: An objective tool to quantify treatment response in vitiligo is currently lacking. This study aimed to objectively evaluate the treatment response in vitiligo by using a computerised digital imaging analysis system (C-DIAS) and to compare it with the physician's global assessment (PGA). Tacrolimus ointment 0.1% (Protopic; Astellas Pharma Tech,Toyama, Japan) was applied twice daily on selected lesions which were photographed every 6 weeks for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy end-point was the mean percentage of repigmentation (MPR), as assessed by the digital method (MPR-C-DIAS) or by the PGA. The response was categorised into none (0%), mild (1-25%), moderate (26-50%), good (51-75%) and excellent (76-100%).
  Out of 56 patients, 44 (79%) responded. Overall, the response was mild in 22 (39%), moderate in 21(40%) and good in one (2%) patient(s). A total of 39 (70%) patients responded as measured by PGA. The repigmentation was mild in 27(48%), moderate in 10 (18%) and good to excellent in two (4%) patients. The κ test of consistency was 0.17 (P = 0.053), which shows poor agreement between the two assessment methods, although this is not statistically significant. The C-DIAS can be used to perform an objective analysis of repigmentation or depigmentation in vitiligo skin lesions in response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Norashikin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shamsudin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Suraiya H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.affiliation: Intelligent Signal and Imaging Research, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hermawan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nugroho
authors.affiliation: Intelligent Signal and Imaging Research, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Hani Ahmad
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fadzil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: assessment method; computerised; digital imaging analysis; objective; vitiligo