Korean J Dermatol.
2015 Dec;53(10):760-765.
Combination Therapy of Topical CCB (Combination of Calcipotriol and Betamethasone Dipropionate) Gel and Narrowband Ultraviolet B (NBUVB) in the Treatment of Vitiligo: An Intraindividual Right-Versus-Left Comparison Study with Topical Be
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Dong-a University, Busan, Korea. khkim@dau.ac.kr
Abstract
- BACKGROUND
In the treatment of vitiligo, topical corticosteroids are known to be effective, but are associated with serious adverse effects. Many studies have shown that topical calcipotriol is a promising therapeutic modality in vitiligo. In some studies, combined calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate ointment has been shown to be a more effective and well tolerated treatment for vitiligo. The combination therapy seems to synergistically act as an immunosuppressive and a pigment restorative agent.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the clinical efficacy of CCB (Combination Calcipotriol and Betamethasone dipropionate) gel compared with that of betamethasone dipropionate alone in the repigmentation of vitiligo.
METHODS
In an intraindividual right-left comparison study (n=20), a CCB gel was applied once daily to a lesion on one side, and betamethasone dipropionate cream was applied to a lesion on the other side. The degree of repigmentation was assessed according to the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) at baseline, 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.
RESULTS
The CCB gel treated group showed a remarkably improved therapeutic outcome compared to the betamethasone dipropionate monotherapy group: the percentages of VASI relative to the baseline at CCB gel treated sites were 82.73+/-8.17%, 70.45+/-14.05%, 62.73+/-17.52%, and 56.24+/-18.49% at 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks after treatment, respectively; while those of the other sites receiving betamethasone dipropionate were 89.55+/-7.24%, 84.55+/-10.60%, 77.73+/-14.38%, and 73.48+/-12.93%. Adverse effects such as atrophy and burning sensations were much less after CCB gel treatment than after betamethasone monotherapy.
CONCLUSION
CCB gel is more effective and tolerable than betamethasone dipropionate monotherapy in repigmentation therapy for vitiligo.