title: Tacalcitol: a useful adjunct to narrow-band ultraviolet-B phototherapy in vitiligo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phototherapy especially narrow-band UV-B (NBUVB) has been considered as mainstay of therapy in nonsegmental vitiligo (generalized type). Topical tacalcitol has also been claimed to be effective, either as monotherapy or as combination therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Comparison of clinical efficacy and safety of NBUVB in combination with topical tacalcitol vs. NBUVB alone in vitiligo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with symmetrical vitiliginous lesions were enrolled for 24 weeks. Patients were instructed to apply tacalcitol ointment on right side of body once daily. In addition, the whole body was irradiated with NBUVB thrice weekly. All the patients were examined, and lesional photography was done. Patients were also followed up for 6 months post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study resulted in two key findings: (1) There was a statistically significant difference in mean percentage of repigmentation at 8, 16 and 24 weeks between combination therapy and NBUVB. (2) The mean cumulative dose and number of treatment sessions for initial repigmentation were significantly lower with combination therapy. No serious adverse effects were observed during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical tacalcitol potentiates efficacy of NBUVB as it enhances extent of pigmentation, decrease time to repigmentation and lowers the cumulative doses of NBUVB, thereby leading to greater patient satisfaction and improved compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Pt B D Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Priyadarshini
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Pt B D Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Vijay Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Pt B D Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Pt B D Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Sarabjit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Pt B D Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Surabhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dayal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004100:Dihydroxycholecalciferols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D004100:Dihydroxycholecalciferols; C023850:1 alpha,24-dihydroxyvitamin D3
keywords: narrow-band UVB; tacalcitol; vitiligo