title: The role of systemic steroids and phototherapy in the treatment of stable vitiligo: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Pathogenesis of vitiligo is believed to be multifactorial disease with a wide variety of therapeutic modalities. The aim of this work is to assess the efficacy of oral mini-pulse steroids (OMP) plus Nb-U.V.B in comparison to OMP alone and Nb-U.V.B alone in treating stable vitiligo. A prospective randomized controlled study including 45 patients categorized into three groups receiving therapy for 3 months; Group A received Nb-U.V.B plus OMP, Group B received OMP alone while Group C received Nb-U.V.B alone. Clinical assessment and PCR evaluation of bFGF, ICAM1, and ELISA for AMA were done. Patients receiving Nb-U.V.B plus OMP and using Nb-U.V.B alone gave statistically significant clinical response than those treated with OMP alone. Statistically significant rise of BFGF was noticed after treatment with Nb-U.V.B plus OMP and with Nb-U.V.B alone. Patients treated with OMP alone and with Nb-U.V.B alone showed statistically significant drop of ICAM-1 after therapy. NB-U.V.B plus OMP and Nb-U.V.B alone were found to be clinically superior over OMP alone in treating stable vitiligo patients, hence suggesting that adding OMP to Nb-U.V.B can maintain clinical and laboratory success for a longer period of time and with less relapse.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Medhat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Mofty
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Essmat
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Randa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Youssef
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sherine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sobeih
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Doaa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mahgoub
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sherine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ossama
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Akmal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Tawdy
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Heba M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Mashaly
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saney
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Helal
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Olfat
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shaker
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C573420:ICAM1 protein, human; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D011241:Prednisone
keywords: NB-U.V.B; oral pulse steroids; systemic steroids; vitiligo