Treatment of Vitiligo with Narrow Band UVB vs.UVB with 0.1% Psoralin; A Case Controlled, Comparative, Therapeutic Trial

This is a case controlled comparative therapeutic trial that conducted in the Beirut Center of dermatology/Baghdad from December 2011 to May 2012 to assess the clinical efficacy of NB-UVB plus topical 0.1% 8-methoxypsoralin in treatment of vitiligo. Sixty-one patients with generalized vitiligo were included in the study with age ranged from 19 to 40 years. The percent of body surface area of vitiligo (BSA-V) ranges from (5-60%) (18 ± 11.6). The response to treatment was evaluated according to a grading system (0, 1, 2, 3, 4).The patients were divided into two groups: group I was exposed to NB-UVB twice weekly till reach 48 sessions with assessment each 16 sessions intervals. Group II was treated with NB-UVB twice weekly with application of 0.1% methoxypsoralin twice weekly before NB-UVB exposure. The duration of treatment was 48 sessions with assessment each 16 sessions interval. In group I, the number of patients who achieved more than 50% reduction in BSA-V was 16 patients (53%): 10 patients reached grade3 and 6(20%) patients reached grade 4, whereas the number of patients who achieved more than 50% reduction in BSA-V was 17(55%) patients: 12(39%) patients reached grade 3 and 5(16%) patients reached grade 4. Group II showed more rapid and effective response than group I. The topical 0.1% methoxypsoralin potentiate the efficacy of NB-UVB in treatment of vitiligo. This combination therapy provided earlier repigmentation and reduced the duration of the treatment.