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The efficacy of ablation‐based combination therapy for vitiligo: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
King YihAn,
Tsai TsungYu,
Tsai HsiouHsin,
Huang YuChen
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
jddg: journal der deutschen dermatologischen gesellschaft
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.463
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1610-0387
pISSN - 1610-0379
DOI - 10.1111/ddg.13657
Subject(s) - medicine , vitiligo , confidence interval , meta analysis , odds ratio , combination therapy , ablation , subgroup analysis , randomized controlled trial , laser therapy , surgery , dermatology , laser , physics , optics
Summary Background and objectives This study aimed to compare the efficacy of vitiligo treatments with and without ablation therapy. Patients and methods We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of literature published before September 15, 2017. Comparative studies of vitiligo patients treated with and without ablation therapy were included. The primary outcome was ≥ 50 % repigmentation. Secondary outcomes were ≥ 75 % repigmentation and patient scores on a subjective visual analogue scale. Results Fifteen studies with a total of 401 participants were included. The ablation‐based combination therapy group had significantly superior results to the control group (odds ratio [OR] for ≥ 50 % repigmentation: 10.490, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 4.632–23.757; OR for ≥ 75 % repigmentation: 5.812, 95 % CI: 2.194–15.393). Patients receiving ablation‐based combination therapy were significantly more satisfied with the efficacy than the control group (standardized mean difference: 1.073, 95 % CI: 0.528–1.619). Subgroup analysis showed that the erbium laser group, CO 2 laser group and fractional CO 2 laser group achieved significantly better repigmentation than the control groups. Conclusions According to objective and subjective evaluations, treatments for vitiligo are more effective when combined with ablation therapy than when used alone.