EFFICACY OF THE COMBINATION OF FRACTIONAL LASER CO2 AND NARROWBAND ULTRAVIOLET B IN THE TREATMENT OF NON-SEGMENTAL VITILIGO

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of the combination of fractional laser CO2
and narrowband
ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) in the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo.
Materials and methods: An prospective half-body comparative clinical study, was conducted on
31 lesions of vitiligo in 17 patients with non-segmental vitiligo. Patients were treated with 3 monthly
sessions of half-body fractional laser CO2
and NB-UVB was administered to the entire body 5 days after
each fractional laser interval 3 times per week for 4 months. Objective clinical assessments were evaluated
on the area of the lesion using Adobe Lightroom program, adverse effects, and patient satisfaction.
Results: There was a good improvement in the repigmentation on laser side compared to control
side, but not significant. The improvement was statistically significant on laser side than control side
on trunk and in the group of stable vitiligo. We observed the mix repigmentation of marginal and
perifollicular was the most frequent (48,4%). Noticeable adverse effects were pain, burning sensation,
erythema, swelling, pruritus and hyperpigmentation. No activated vitiligo, Koebner phenomenon,
infection or scarring was found in our patients.
Conclusion: The combination of fractional laser CO2
and NB-UVB could be considered a safe
treatment of stable non-segmental vitiligo, especially on trunk.

Received: 16/03/2022
Revised: 21/04/2022
Accepted:  05/06/2022