Preliminary study on the treatment of vitiligo with carbon dioxide fractional laser together with tacrolimus.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Tacrolimus is a conventional medication for the treatment of vitiligo, but the effect of a single medication is limited.

OBJECTIVE:

This paper aims at observing the effects, adverse responses, and repigmentation results of the joint treatment of vitiligo by Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) fractional laser together with tacrolimus.

METHODS:

Forty-five patients with vitiligo were randomly divided into two groups: treatment (T) group and control (C) group, and each group was further divided into three subgroups (face, torso and limbs, and hand and foot) according to the location of the skin defect. Both groups used topical 0.1% tacrolimus cream, but the T group was given one CO2 fractional laser treatment each month. We observed the clinical efficacy, adverse responses, and repigmentation results after 6 months.

RESULTS:

Compared to the C group, the T group showed better improvement in both objective and subjective assessments. When the treatment time was increased, the efficacy was also improved, and the repigmentation in the T group occured in three ways: perifollicular repigmentation, marginal repigmentation and diffuse repigmentation. There were three cases of isomorphic responses (2 cases in the rapid progression stage, one case in the progression stage), and 1 case formed scarring on the neck in the T group.

CONCLUSIONS:

The treatment of vitiligo by CO2 fractional laser together with tacrolimus is significantly effective and is most suitable for patients in the progression stage. Patients in the rapid progression stage should use this approach with caution, and its efficacy was limited for patients in the stable stage. An extended course of treatment is helpful for the repigmentation of white patches. All three forms of repigmentation can occur in the joint treatment of vitiligo by CO2 fractional laser together with tacrolimus. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:829-836, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

• Authors: Wei Chen, Yuan Zhou, Fei-Ran Huang, Dan Luo, Da-Guang Wang
• Journal: Lasers in surgery and medicine (Lasers Surg Med) Vol. 50 Issue 8 Pg. 829-836 (10 2018) ISSN: 1096-9101 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29635693 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Calcineurin Inhibitors
• Tacrolimus

Topics

• Adult
• Calcineurin Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Female
• Humans
• Lasers, Gas (therapeutic use)
• Low-Level Light Therapy
• Male
• Tacrolimus (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Vitiligo (therapy)