Mini Pulse Oral Therapy, Phototherapy versus Topical Therapy for Treatment of Subclinical Vitiligo - Abstract
Background: Subclinical vitiligo represents early or invisible depigmented lesions detectable only under Wood’s light. This study compares the efficacy of oral mini-pulse corticosteroid therapy, narrowband UVB phototherapy, and topical therapy in patients with subclinical vitiligo.
Methods: Sixty patients were randomized into three equal groups. Group a received oral dexamethasone mini-pulse therapy (children: 8 mg/day; adults: 16 mg/day, administered on two consecutive days weekly for 3 months). Group B received NB-UVB phototherapy (starting 0.5 J/cm², incrementally increased to a maximum of 5 J/cm²) three times weekly for 3 months. Group C received topical mometasone furoate once daily (5 days/week) plus tacrolimus 0.1%
ointment twice daily for 3 months. Outcomes included Vitiligo Area Severity Index (VASI), Vitiligo Disease Activity (VIDA), ?VASI, and ?VIDA.
Results: At 12-month follow-up, VASI and VIDA improvements were significantly greater in Group A, followed by Group B, with the least improvement in Group C (P < 0.05). ?VASI and ?VIDA were defined as the difference between baseline and follow-up scores. Mini-pulse therapy demonstrated earlier disease stabilization and superior repigmentation rates.
Conclusion: Oral mini-pulse therapy and NB-UVB are more effective than topical therapy in subclinical vitiligo.