The efficacy of microphototherapy in vitiligo patients with localized lesions
Journal Title: Türkderm - Deri Hastalıkları ve Frengi Arşivi - Year 2017, Vol 51, Issue 3
Abstract
Background and Design: Vitiligo is a chronic skin disease. To reduce side effects associated with current treatment modalities, new treatment methods are required. Microphototherapy was introduced to treat vitiligo patients with a limited number of lesions (lesions affecting <10% of the body surface area). Materials and Methods: Our study has aimed to evaluate the efficacy of microphototherapy in vitiligo patients with localized lesions. In this unblinded and prospective study, patients were treated thrice weekly for at least 50 sessions using an MedLight CupCUBE Grimed® microphototherapy device which emits ultraviolet B spectrum with a starting dose of 150 mJ/cm2 for 5 seconds and with increments of 30 mj/cm2, 1 second at each session. At the end of the 50th session, 50% reduction in Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) score was accepted as the required minimum response. Results: Thirty-three lesions from 14 patients were treated. Treatment outcome was evaluated based on the VASI. Between 0th and 50th sessions, the mean VASI score in 33 lesions decreased from 2.25 to 1.79 showing 20.4% decline (p<0.05). Twenty-one of 33 lesions exhibited decrease in VASI scores at the end of the 50th session although only 11 of these 21 lesions reached the target of VASI 50% while the remaining 10 lesions did not reach the target. As a result, 11 lesions (33.3%) reached VASI 50% while the remaining 22 lesions (66.7%) did not reach the target. Conclusion: The efficacy of the MedLight CupCUBE Grimed® microphototherapy device was poor with these starting doses, durations and increments for the treatment of patients with vitiligo who had localized lesions. Trying topical therapies initially, calculating minimal erythema dose and, thus, measuring the beginning ultraviolet doses and durations as a way to decrease the number of in-hospital sessions are feasible rather than applying this technique as the first option or alone in vitiligo patients with non-segmental and localized lesions.
Authors and Affiliations
Neslihan Yıldırım, Gül Erkin
Keywords
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- EP ID EP364985
- DOI 10.4274/turkderm.37043
- Views 81
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