EFFICACY OF COMBINED TOPICAL TACROLIMUS AND EXCIMER LAMP IN TREATMENT OF LOCALIZED VITILIGO

Abstract

Background: In recent years, excimer light treatments have come to the fore in localized vitiligo because of their high efficacy and safety. There is limited data regarding the use of combination of tacrolimus and excimer lamp for treatment of localized vitiligo in Vietnam.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of combined topical tacrolimus and excimer lamp in treating localized vitiligo.

Methods: We performed a before – after clinical trial, including a total of 30 patients who were treated with excimer lamp and topical tacrolimus at National hospital of Dermatology and Venereology from 7/2019 to 9/2021. Patients were treated by excimer lamp 2 times per week and topical tacrolimus 0.1% twice a day. The effectiveness was evaluated by the changes in VASI before and after treatment: excellent response (76 - 100%), good response (51 – 75%), moderate response (26 – 50%) and poor response (0 – 25%).

Results: After 12 weeks, there were 53.3% good and excellent response, 26.7% moderate response and 20% poor response. The response rate increased significantly over time (p < 0.05), excellent response raised from 0 to 20%, good response from 10% to 33.3% after 6 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. Side effects occurred in 43.3% of patients, including burning (43.3%), pruritus (10%) and mild blistering (6.7%), none of which interrupted treatment.

Conclusions: Combination therapy of topical tacrolimus 0.1% and excimer lamp appeared to be efficacious with a safety profile in treating localized vitiligo.