title: Monochromatic excimer light versus combination of topical steroid with vitamin D3 analogue in the treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo: a randomized blinded comparative study.
abstract: Vitiligo is a difficult disease to treat, socially stigmatizing its patients. Monochromatic excimer light (MEL) was developed for use in dermatology and adapted for the treatment of vitiligo. Comparing the efficacy of MEL versus topical combination therapy of vitamin D3 analogue and steroid in the treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo. Forty-four patients with localized and stable nonsegmental vitiligo participated in the present study. In each patient, two lesions were selected and divided randomly into two groups, group A was treated with daily topical combination of calcipotriol and betamethasone and group B was treated with biweekly sessions of MEL for 3 months. Efficacy based on repigmentation percentages were blindly evaluated by two independent physicians and patient's satisfaction. There was significant improvement in both treatment modalities at the end of the study, but without significant differences in both groups. There was a significant difference between both groups regarding the onset of repigmentation (p-value < 0.05), whereas group B showed early sign of repigmentation in first 4 weeks of treatment in 16 patients versus 7 patients in group A. Both treatment modalities offered encouraging results and both are promising lines for the treatment of vitiligo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Azmy Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abdel Latif
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Shady Mahmoud Attia
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C055085:calcipotriene; D001623:Betamethasone; D002117:Calcitriol
keywords: excimer light; topical steroid; vitamin D3 analogue; vitiligo