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Narrow‐band UVB phototherapy combined with tacrolimus ointment in vitiligo: a review of 110 patients
Author(s) -
Fai D,
Cassano N,
Vena GA
Publication year - 2007
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.1468-3083.2006.02101.x
Subject(s) - medicine , tacrolimus , vitiligo , dermatology , tolerability , refractory (planetary science) , concomitant , population , trunk , surgery , transplantation , adverse effect , ecology , physics , environmental health , astrobiology , biology
Background Narrow‐band ultraviolet B (NB‐UVB) phototherapy and topical tacrolimus are included among the most innovative approaches to vitiligo. Objective To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of combined treatment with NB‐UVB and topical tacrolimus in vitiligo. Methods After informed consent, adult patients with chronic (> 1‐year duration) stable vitiligo refractory to conventional treatments were enrolled in an open‐labelled prospective study. Treatment regimen consists of once‐daily application, in the evening, of tacrolimus 0.03% ointment to the lesions of the face, or tacrolimus 0.1% ointment to the vitiligous patches located on other areas. Concomitant NB‐UVB phototherapy was performed twice weekly for 16 weeks. Results Study population included 110 patients (mean age, 42) with a total of 403 lesions. Within the treatment period, variable repigmentation was evident on more than 70% of lesions. Clinical response (repigmentation more than 50%) was observed in 42% of lesions. Response was strictly dependent on the site, being more frequent for face lesions (73%), followed by limbs (68%) and trunk (53.5%). The therapeutic effect on the extremities and genital areas was quite disappointing. Treatment was well tolerated. Conclusions Our preliminary data suggest that the combination of topical tacrolimus with NB‐UVB phototherapy can represent an alternative highly effective approach to refractory vitiligo located on the face, trunk and limbs. Long‐term safety data and randomized controlled trials on a large number of patients are required.