Narrowband ultraviolet B radiation therapy for vitiligo in Asians

Background Vitiligo is an acquired disorder of pigmentation with 1-2% incidenceworldwide. Various treatment modalities have been described in literature with variable results. Recently, narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) has been reported to be effective in vitiligo.Objective To assess the efficacy of narrowband ultraviolet B therapy in Asian patients with localized vitiligo.Patients and methods The study was open and uncontrolled. All patients with localized vitiligo who were seen at the Phototherapy Unit, of the Skin Clinic, Lahore from July, 2002 to June, 2003 and fulfilled the inclusion criteria, were treated with NBUVB as part of our clinical practice. The initial dose was 0.5 J/cm2 independent of the skin type. The dose was increased by 20% at each treatment session.Results A total of 23 patients were recruited; 13 females and 10 males. Their mean age was 27 years (range 9-48 years). 65% of patients showed 50% improvement. Certain anatomic sites responded better than the others. The best response i.e. 75% repigmentation was seen in lesions on face and neck. Lesions on the trunk also achieved more than 50% repigmentation. However, none had more than 10% repigmentation on hands and feet.Conclusion Our results showed that NBUVB is a safe and effective option for improving cosmetic appearance in vitiligo patients. Its adverse effects were minimal and transient and were well tolerated by the patients