Comparison of Cyclic On-off and Continuous Excimer Laser Treatment for Vitiligo

Summary

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of the cyclic on-off treatment compared to the conventional continuous excimer laser treatment. DESIGN: A randomized, controlled, split-body, non-inferiority study. SETTING: The trial was performed in two tertiary health care centers in Korea. PARTICIPANT: Twelve patients (16 pairs of lesions) with stable symmetric vitiligo less than 5 years' disease duration were enrolled. INTERVENSION: The paired symmetric vitiliginous lesions were randomized to either the continuous or the cyclic on-off treatment. All lesions were treated twice weekly for 9-month: continuously, or cyclically with 2-month treatment and 1-month intermission (total 3 cycles). Topical tacrolimus was applied throughout the trial. OUTCOME MEASURES: The repigmentation was assessed using an image analysis program with clinical photographs. The primary outcome was mean difference of repigmentation rates and the non-inferiority margin was set at 10%. During intermission period, the clinical changes such as loss of repigmentation or worsening of the vitiligo lesions were assessed.

Timeline

Start

2015-07-21

Primary completion

2016-12-31

Completion

2016-12-31

Publications

• Background Zhang XY, He YL, Dong J, Xu JZ, Wang J. Clinical efficacy of a 308 nm excimer laser in the treatment of vitiligo. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2010 Jun;26(3):138-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2010.00509.x.
• Background Hofer A, Hassan AS, Legat FJ, Kerl H, Wolf P. Optimal weekly frequency of 308-nm excimer laser treatment in vitiligo patients. Br J Dermatol. 2005 May;152(5):981-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.06321.x.
• Background Park KK, Liao W, Murase JE. A review of monochromatic excimer light in vitiligo. Br J Dermatol. 2012 Sep;167(3):468-78. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2012.11008.x. Epub 2012 Aug 8.
• Results Aberdam E, Romero C, Ortonne JP. Repeated UVB irradiations do not have the same potential to promote stimulation of melanogenesis in cultured normal human melanocytes. J Cell Sci. 1993 Dec;106 ( Pt 4):1015-22. doi: 10.1242/jcs.106.4.1015.

Drugs

Indications