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Comparison between 308‐nm monochromatic excimer light and narrowband UVB phototherapy (311–313 nm) in the treatment of vitiligo – a multicentre controlled study
Author(s) -
Casacci M,
Thomas P,
Pacifico A,
Bonnevalle A,
Paro Vidolin A,
Leone G
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.1468-3083.2007.02151.x
Subject(s) - vitiligo , medicine , dermatology , psoralen , ultraviolet b , ultraviolet a , lesion , excimer , surgery , optics , dna , genetics , physics , fluorescence , biology
Background Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder characterized by areas of depigmented skin resulting from loss of epidermal melanocytes. Recently, it has been shown that narrowband ultraviolet B (NB‐UVB) phototherapy may be more effective than psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) photochemotherapy in treating vitiligo, and that 308‐nm monochromatic excimer light (MEL) may present some advantages as compared to NB‐UVB for the treatment of vitiligo. Aim The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of NB‐UVB phototherapy and 308‐nm MEL in vitiligo patients. Methods The study was done in a randomized, investigator‐blinded and half‐side comparison design. Twenty‐one subjects with symmetrical vitiligo lesions were enrolled in this study. Vitiligo lesions on one body side were treated twice weekly for 6 months with 308‐nm MEL, while NB‐UVB phototherapy was used to treat lesions on the opposite side. Results At the end of the study six lesions (37.5%) treated with 308‐nm MEL and only one lesion (6%) treated with NB‐UVB achieved an excellent repigmentation (score 4) while four lesions (25%) treated with 308‐nm MEL and five lesions (31%) treated with NB‐UVB showed a good repigmentation (score 3). Conclusions It appears that 308‐nm MEL is more effective than NB‐UVB in treating vitiligo lesions and it induces repigmentation more rapidly.