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UV‐B radiation microphototherapy. An elective treatment for segmental vitiligo
Author(s) -
Lotti Torello M.,
Menchini Giovanni,
Andreassi Lucio
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3083.1999.tb00861.x
Subject(s) - vitiligo , medicine , depigmentation , dermatology , placebo , radiation therapy , surgery , pathology , alternative medicine
Background Vitiligo is a common disease of unknown cause that produces disfiguring white patches of depigmentation. Previous studies have suggested the effectiveness of UV‐B radiation in generalized vitiligo (GV) therapy, but there was no evidence to support the same role for segmental vitiligo (SV). Objective The purpose of this study was to use UV‐B radiation exclusively on vitiligo patches of individuals affected by S V to evaluate the effectiveness of this therapy. Subjects and methods Eight individuals with SV were treated for 6 months with a new device called BIOSKIN® that can produce a focused beam of UV‐B (microphoto‐therapy) on vitiligo patches only. Photographs of the subjects were taken at the beginning of the therapy and once a month thereafter for 6 months. The response to treatment was estimated in two comparable photographs using planimetry. A control group of eight individuals matched for sex and age was treated with placebo, using the same device but not releasing any kind of detectable light. Results After 6 months of microphototherapy five subjects of the eight studied achieved normal pigmentation on more than 75% of the treated areas. In particular, three of these were totally repigmented. Two individuals achieved 50–75% pigmentation of the treated areas, and only one showed less than 50% repigmentation (Table 3). In the control group only one patient showed moderate repigmentation (less than 50%) (Table 3) (Fig. 3). Conclusion UV‐B microphototherapy seems highly effective in restoring pigmentation in patients affected by vitiligo. As no side‐effects have been observed, this could represent the treatment of choice in the limited (segmental) forms of vitiligo.