Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B versus Oral Minocycline in Treatment of Unstable Vitiligo : A Prospective Comparative Trial

Abstract EN

Background.

We have compared NB-UVB and oral minocycline in stabilizing vitiligo for the first time.

Subjects and Methods.

42 patients were divided equally into two groups: the NB-UVB and minocycline groups.

Phototherapy was administered twice a week on nonconsecutive days.

In the minocycline group, patients were advised to take minocycline 100 mg once daily.

The treatment period was 3 months.

Vitiligo disease activity (VIDA) score was noted every 4 weeks for 12 months.

Digital photographs were taken at baseline and monthly intervals.

Results.

Before the therapy, disease activity was present in 100% of the patients, which was reduced to 23.8% and 66.1% by the end of therapy in the NB-UVB and minocycline groups retrospectively (P<0.05).

16 of the 21 (76/1%) patients with unstable disease in the NB-UVB group achieved stability, whereas this was the case for only 7 of the 21 (33.3%) in the minocycline group (P<0.001).

The diameter changes were statistically significant at the end of treatment in the NB-UVB group compared to the minocycline group (P=0.031).

Side effects in both groups were mild.

Conclusion.

NB-UVB was statistically more advantageous than oral minocycline in unstable vitiligo in terms of efficacy and the resulting stability.