J Korean Med Sci.  2005 Apr;20(2):273-278. 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.2.273.

Short-term Effects of 308-nm Xenon-chloride Excimer Laser and Narrow-band Ultraviolet B in the Treatment of Vitiligo: A Comparative Study

• Hong SB
• Park HH
• Lee MH

• KMID: 1095203
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2005.20.2.273

Abstract

We compared the clinical efficacy of a short-term intervention of 308-nm excimer laser with that of narrow-band UVB (NBUVB) phototherapy for vitiligo patients to see the early response. Twenty-three symmetrically patterned patches of vitiligo on 8 patients were selected. Vitiligo patches on one side of the body were treated 2 times per week for a maximum of 20 treatments with the excimer laser, and NBUVB phototherapy was used on patches on the other side. Improvement (repigmentation) was assessed on a visual scale via serial photographs taken every five treatments and scored as follows: 0, or=75% improvement. At five treatments, the excimer laser-treated patches had an average score of 0.26, compared with 0.04 for patches treated with NBUVB phototherapy. A slightly higher repigmentation (p>0.05) in the excimer treated area was thus observed. At 10, 15, or 20 treatments, the differences between the average scores were significant: 0.83, 1.17, and 1.39 for the excimer-treated patches, and 0.17, 0.30, and 0.74 for the NBUVB pho-totherapy-treated areas (p<0.05). In conclusion, the 308-nm excimer laser appears to be more effective than NBUVB phototherapy, as it produces more rapid and profound repigmentation.

Keyword

Vitiligo; 308-nm Excimer Laser; Laser Therapy, Low-Level; Narrow Band UVB; Phototherapy; Ultraviolet Therapy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Chlorides/*therapeutic use
Comparative Study
Female
Humans
Lasers/*therapeutic use
Male
Middle Aged
Treatment Outcome
*Ultraviolet Therapy
Vitiligo/pathology/*radiotherapy
Xenon/*therapeutic use

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Vitiligo patches on the left side of the trunk (A) prior to the 308-nm excimer laser treatment, (B) at 5 treatments, (C) at 15 treatments, and (D) at 20 treatments (G: repigmentation grade).

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  Fig. 2 Vitiligo patches on the right side of the trunk (A) prior to NBUVB phototherapy, (B) at 5 treatments, (C) at 15 treatments, and (D) at 20 treatments (G: repigmentation grade).

• 

  Fig. 3 Vitiligo patches on the breast region (right side of line: NBUVB phototherapy-treated area, left side of line: excimer laser-treated area) (A) prior to NBUVB phototherapy, (B) at 5 treatments, (C) at 15 treatments, and (D) at 20 treatments (G: repigmentation grade).

• 

  Fig. 4 Vitiligo patches on the left side of the hand (A) prior to the 308-nm excimer laser treatment and (B) at 20 treatments. Vitiligo patches on the right side of the hand (C) prior to NBUVB phototherapy and (D) at 20 treatments.

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