Phototherapy and Vitiligo
#1 Narrow-band Ultraviolet B is a Useful and Well-Tolerated Treatment for Vitiligo Lubomira Scherschun, MD; Jane J. Kim, MD; Henry W. Lim, MD. Journal of American Academy of Dermatology. VOL 44, Number 6. June 2001
Seven diverse vitiligo patients treated for one year with narrow-band UVB therapy. Five of the seven achieved 75% repigmentation with a mean of 19 treatments.
CONCLUSION: Treatment protocol resulted in rapid repigmentation in many patients, including those with skin phototypes IV and V. In accordance with previous studies, this report indicates that narrow-band UVB is a useful and well-tolerated therapy for vitiligo.
#2 Treatment of Generalized Vitiligo in Children with Narrow-Band (TL-01) UVB Radiation Therapy. M. D. Njoo, MD, PhD and W. Westerhof, MD, PhD. Journal of American Academy of Dermatology. Vol 42, Number 2, Part 1. February 2000
Studied efficacy and safety of UVB (311 nm) therapy in children with generalized vitiligo. 51 Children were treated twice a week for one year. Psychosocial impact of disease and treatment were carefully evaluated before and after. 75% overall repigmentation in 53% of patients and a stabilization of the disease in 80%.
CONCLUSION: Narrow-band UVB therapy is effective and safe in childhood vitiligo; it may also significantly improve the quality of life.
#3 Narrow-band ultraviolet B treatment for vitiligo, pruritus, and inflammatory dermatoses. Samson Yashar S. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine [Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed], 2003 Aug; Vol. 19 (4), pp. 164-8; PMID: 12925186
BACKGROUND: Narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy has been used successfully for the treatment of inflammatory and pigmentary skin disorders including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, mycosis fungoides, polymorphous light eruption, and vitiligo. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of the treatment outcomes of 117 consecutive patients with vitiligo, pruritus, and other inflammatory dermatoses, excluding those with psoriasis and CTCL, who were treated with NB-UVB between 1998 and 2001 at our institution. RESULTS: Approximately 80% of all patients showed improvement in their condition. NB-UVB phototherapy was well tolerated, with no serious adverse effects. In patients with vitiligo, 6.4% had an abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone level and 6.5% had anemia.
CONCLUSION: NB-UVB may be considered as a viable therapeutic option in the treatment of vitiligo, pruritus, and other inflammatory dermatoses. Long-term adverse effects and cost-benefit analysis of NB-UVB therapy compared to other treatment modalities remain to be determined.